34 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vou 79 



strip of rattan knotted at each end and easily slipped over the slightly 

 hollowed nock ends of the bow. 



Fishing is conducted with circular dip nets held in the hand. 

 Other forms of fishing paraphernalia include long funnel-like traps 

 of rattan splints. Similarly shaped traps made from some unidenti- 

 fied thorny vine are used by Papuans of the Kirakai River region. 



A form of body armor appears as an enlarged girdle among the 

 Takutamesa and Sebit Papuans of the Van Rees Mountains. It 

 consists of a narrow braided band made from an unidentified vege- 

 table fiber which is wrapped around the abdomen from 75 to 150 

 times, forming a bulging roll completely covering the lower torso. 

 The nearest resemblance to this object of wearing apparel, which 

 is both ornamental and protective, is the braided girdle worn by the 

 Igorot. 



True armor appears in use among the pygmy Negritos. The 

 Negritos of New Guinea are alone among all pj'gmy Negrito peoples 

 in their use of body armor. The armor appears in the form of a 

 woven fabric jacket which is worn as a covering over the chest and 

 lower abdomen. The armor shows not only high artistic merit but 

 embodies the principles of extreme flexibility and durabilit3\ Native 

 arrows can not penetrate it except at the top, where it is suspended 

 from the shoulders by straps of woven fabric which also cover the 

 upper chest. The armor proper begins with a change in the weave 

 at a line 3 or 4 inches below the shoulder straps. The weave from 

 this line downward is a compact form of a double-faced twisted-twine 

 pattein. It appears to be new to science and an exceedingly ingeni- 

 ous invention. As the Negrito's life depends on the strength and 

 impenetrability of his body armor, no shields being used, it may be 

 understood that the weaving of body armor represents his best 

 efforts and skill as a weaver. The warp or passive element is made 

 of a continuous strand of rattan splints which passes vertically from 

 top to bottom and back again entirely around the circumference of the 

 jacket. The crossed weft or active element, also of finely cut rattan 

 splints, passes horizontally across the body as a twisted twined 

 element. The unique features of this weave, which supplies flexi- 

 bility and strength, may be seen in the manner in which the weft is 

 twined first over two warp elements, then completely around the 

 second, and again over two but undergoing two twists in the process. 

 The same process is carried forward on the reverse side of the jacket, 

 forming identical patterns on both inner and outer surfaces and 

 supplying great toughness of fabric. 



The ribbed weave of the upper portion of the jacket is similar 

 to that described before when discussing the weave pattern of the 

 Negrito charm bags. Peeled grommets of orchid stems are intro- 



