NO. 2(1920) OUTRIGGER CANOES OF INDONESIA 51 



up of separate pieces forming a box-like structure, open behind. 

 It consists of two sides each with a forwardly directed horn-shaped 

 projection from the upper edge, a transverse bulkhead at the front 

 between these sides and a high rudder-like ornamental part fitted 

 edgewise against and in front of the bulkhead. This last part 

 together with the two sides are usually pierced with fretwork 

 scrolls (wave-pattern ?) after the manner of the prow piece. The 

 mode of attachment of the median piece accentuates its likeness 

 to a rudder, for the hinder edge is furnished with a pintle-like peg 

 to fit over the top edge of the athwart bulkhead ; the head of the 

 pintle is fashioned to represent the Papuan conventional human 

 face, and another but smaller head is found at the upper outer 

 corner. No further decoration is usually present in Manokwari 

 canoes of this type, but at Wooi Bay and other of the Papuan 

 villages in the islands in Geelvink Bay, what no doubt represents 

 the formerly universal fashion in this district still prevails ; in 

 these the projecting wing-like horn of each side is decorated with 

 the porcelain-white shells of the egg-cowry (Ovum ovum), suspend- 

 ed from the fore end and from projections on the under edge ; 

 usually a single shell is hung from each point, sometimes a bunch 

 of two or even of three may be thus suspended. In a fully deco- 

 rated canoe, a row of three -shells is generally hung from each 

 side projection (Fig. iol It is probable that in former days 

 and even now during festivals this shell was and is employed 

 more lavishly in decoration, for in one instance I saw each of the 

 heads of the outrigger stanchions ornamented with a shell, tied on, 

 together with a bunch of leaves."" 



In the recess in the bows provided by this ornamental struc- 

 ture is stowed the shallow basket holding the turtle harpoon line. 

 In passing, it is worthy of note that the line is fitted with wooden 

 disc ' retarders ', sometimes highly ornamented with carving. In 

 some cases they are fashioned into somewhat conventionalized 

 representations of fishes (Fig. 1 1), birds, and fish-tails (Fig. 12); 

 others, the less important ones, have incised geometrical patterns 

 on one side (Fig. 13). . . 



In all the sailing canoes in this district which adhere to the 

 original style of rig, a tripod mast and oblong sail are carried. 



* Considerable petty trade is carried on by Chinese traders in these shells on the 

 New Guinea coast, the chief demand appearing to be from further east ; the Solomon 

 islanders are noted for their love of the egg- cowry in their decorative schemes. 



