290 STRAY NOTES ON PAPUAN ETHNOLOGY, 



The most bizarre feature of the hook and that which separates 

 it the widest from its congeners is the loop for the attachment of 

 the fishing line (fig. 2). To detach this is impossible without destroy- 

 ing much of the value of the specimen from an ethnological 

 aspect, but I have ascertained by thrusting a pen-knife under the 

 lashing that the limb holds it by no knobs or projections, but 

 carries the same breadth to the end. The neatness and strength 

 of the wicker lashing is characteristic of Papuan workmanship, 

 and is like that used on adze heads. A wooden hoop, whose end 

 is seen projecting in the drawing, is bent over the end of the limb 

 and served round with a split cane (1) of a species unknown to 

 me. leaving an eye two and three quarters by one and three quarter 

 inches for the reception of the fishing line. This is cross-seized 

 with cane at the end of the limb and again four inches lower 

 down. This fastening cannot be moved or shaken by any force I 

 could apply, and is apparently intended to resist and has resisted 

 great strain in drawing weighty fish to the surface.* 



IV. A Waist Band Knot, 



The most superficial of readers or of travellers in the Pacific 

 cannot fail to possess some acquaintance with the garment known 

 to Europeans as the "grass petticoat" and to Polynesians as the 

 "titi." Throughout the Pacific it is the usual woman's dress, and 

 may be. generally described as a belt from which depend strips 

 or bunches of fibre. It has long been known that between one 

 island and another considerable difference exists in the local 

 dresses in the way of material, length and colour. 



In studying the dresses from Funafuti, I found that distinctions 

 occurred also in the mode in which the strands are knotted to the 

 waist belt. On this point I have met with no previous observa- 

 tions, and I therefore desci'ibed and figured the Funafuti pattern 

 in detail. 



* Postscri2}t. — Since the above was read, Mr. Hardy has generously 

 presented this interesting specimen to the Australian Museum. 



