60 



improbable that any of these bushnien have ever seen the sea, it is 

 evident that they are able to carry on some trade with the coastal 

 men, probably through many intermediate tribes, as we found them 

 wtai ins sea-shell ornaments, and possessed, in some instances, of iron 

 implements, such as a much used axe blade and plane irons. They 

 also knew the names of the Kikor, Turama, and Bamu rivers, but 

 their ideas as to the directions of same were sometimes far from 

 correct. 



While these far-inland bushmen are probably cannibals, we were 

 unable to find any direct evidence. At Sambregi, one youth had a 

 skull hung round his neck, and one man a pair of human jawbones; 

 these, however, many have been the remains of relatives. In their 

 dubus, or communal dwellings we saw no skulls or other human 

 bones, although the jaws of pigs and other trophies of the chase 

 were in evidence. 



It appears that the natives bury their dead, and, at any rate in 

 some instances, dig up the bones at a later period and put them on 

 platforms. In one instance we saw a tiny house like a small dove- 

 cot built on piles about 6 feet from the ground. In this was a skull 

 painted with red ochre, and some bones. We also saw a platform 

 recently erected, and the natives indicated that it was for human 

 bones. In a rock shelter we saw two skulls and bones placed side by 

 side in a circle of stones ; close by were evidences of a grave having 

 been opened and bodies exhumed. 



For clothing the natives wear a piece of netted cloth hung down 

 from the waist in front from a wide girdle of bark ; at the back dried 

 ^rass or the bright coloured leaves of a plant. In other instances, 

 tapa cloth was hung from the waistband. As a head-dress they wore 

 the black plumes of the cassowary, or the feathers of the white 

 cockatoo ; very occasionally we saw the plumes of the raggiana bird 

 of Paradise. Their hair was usually worn short in front and long 

 behind, clotted into tags and rolls, either with oil or honey and wax 

 of the little black stingless bees. The hair is not bleached with the 

 lime as in other parts of the territory. They wore cane armlets, 

 anklets, and waistbands. These canes were used for fire making. 

 The septem of the nose is pierced and the lubes of the ear, and 

 various things hung thereon from a pencil of bone to circular pieces 

 of cane and the claws of birds. It is remarkable that during our 

 whole trip we saw no evidence of tattooing nor any cicatrices or 

 mutilation of the body. Skin disease was exceedingly rare, and only 

 seen in one or two instances in the adults, and rather more frequently 

 amongst the children. In fact, the natives generally were a remark- 

 ably healthy lot of people. In time of war. and probably on festive 

 occasions, they paint themselves either wholly or in part with yellow 

 or red clay, or with ground charcoal and oil. The women wore a 

 tapa cloth rami frcm waist to knee. They also have tapa cloth cloaks 

 which cover the head and reach to the ground ; this I have seen 

 nowhere else in the territ .ly. In their dubus or communal dwellings 

 they keep rolls of tapa cloth blankets as the nights are cold on the 

 great plateau. 



