STATURE AND STRENGTH. 277 



The averag-e stature of these Papuans is less 

 than our own^ being- only about five feet four inches 3 

 this did not appear to be the case when seen along*- 

 side^ but on board the ship^ and especially when 

 clothed^ the difference became very apparent. Al- 

 thoug-h well made^ and far surpassing* us in ag'ility^ 

 they were our inferiors in muscular power. Their 

 streng'th was tested by means of a deep-sea lead 

 weig-hing- twenty-two pounds which none of the 

 natives could hold out at arm^s leng'th^ althoug*h 

 most of us who tried it experienced no difficulty in 

 sustaining^ the weig'ht for a few seconds. 



Among* the people who came along'side the ship 

 one day we noticed two cases of that kind of 

 elephantiasis called ^^ Barbadoes Leg'/' in one com- 

 bined with enormous distention of the scrotum^ 

 which was larg-er than a man's head^ and studded 

 with warts. One of these unfortunate objects had 

 both leg's much swollen^ especially about the ankle^ 

 where the skin was almost obliterated by larg-e scab- 

 like warts^ the other^ besides the diseased leg*^ had a 

 huofe tumour on the inner side of the rio-ht thio-h. 



The weapons procured at this place consist of 

 spears^ clubs^ a wooden sword^ and a shield. Of 

 the first tliere are several kinds^ all larg-er and 

 heavier than those obtained at the Louisiade^ but^ 

 like tliem^ made of hard^ heavy^ well polished cocoa- 

 nut wood. The spears vary in leng-th from nine to 

 eleven feet^ with a diameter^ where thickest^ of 

 rather more than an inch. From their g-reat weig'ht 



