ETHNOGRAPHY OF BRITISH NEW GUINEA. 235 



scription of the people and their clothing, etc., and a method 

 of making fire by sawing with rattan, Lawes (Proc. Roy. 

 Geogr. Soc, v., 1883, p. 357) records a similar process used 

 by the Koiari ; and D'Albertis also described an analogous 

 method of fire making near the source of the Fly River (ii., 

 p. 99). Chalmers (1885, p. 162) met some squalid natives 

 from the Yule Range ; the men sleep in hammocks and are 

 said to trade in shell ornaments with the coast natives of 

 the north-east coast of the Protectorate. The best account 

 of the Koitapu (Koita of Macgregor) is that by Lawes 

 (p. 371 ). They live at one end of the Motu villages, but pre- 

 serve their distinctness, or in villages a little way inland. 

 There is little difference in physique between these two 

 tribes, but the former is a little the darker. Chalmers (1887, 

 p. 13) refers to the relations between them ; it is interest- 

 ing to note that the Motu usurpers have to pay spiritual 

 tribute to the Koitapu sorcerers and buy fine weather from 

 them. A good account of Koitapu sorceries, sacred stones, 

 charms for wind and rain, yam planting and fighting is 

 given by him in 1887, A., pp. 58-62. The two tribes never 

 fight now, but the Motu often help the Koitapu against 

 their enemies. He also alludes to them on pp. 110-115 

 (1887); and in 1 885, p. 151, refers to a legend which points to 

 common origin for the Toaripi, the Koiari and the Koitapu ; 

 in a later version (1887, A., p. 57) the Motu also have a 

 joint origin with these ; Turner also refers to them (pp. 

 472, 487). Romilly (1893, p. 321) describes a Koitapuan 

 fire hunt or kangaroo drive. Lawes (p. 374) says the last 

 two tribes are closely allied ; he refers to their varied physiog- 

 nomy. The Koiari villages are built on crests of hills, and 

 in almost every village is one house high up on a tree. 

 Macgregor (C. A., 1, 1892, p. 27) attributes the more sturdy 

 build of the Koiari to their mountain life and abundance 

 of food. Stone (pp. 113-125, 129, 164-168) also describes 

 the appearance of the Koiari, their houses, clothing, etc. 

 Quite recently a very valuable account of Koiari customs 

 is given by Chalmers (1890, pp. 317-323). Inland oi the 

 Koiari lies the country of the Kupele or Kubere. Chalmers 

 (1885, p. 130) says some are very dark, others very light 



