The New Britain Currency, or Shell-money. 47 



of the one is inserted into the split of the other, and shells 

 drawn tightly over the other to hold it fast. In order to 

 draw the shells tightly over the joint, the operator, as he 

 sits, presses his heel on the opposite end of the piece which 

 is split, and then draws the shells one by one towards him. 

 When thus threaded and joined, it is measured off in 

 fathoms and coiled. It is measured by stretching it from 

 extended hand to hand across the chest, so as to make from 

 five to six feet, according to the length of the man's arms. 

 If it be a Wge quantity belonging to one person, it is 

 generally put aside in coils of ten of these measurements 

 called "pokono," and which for convenience the whites call 

 " fathoms." 



A peculiarity of this shell is, that it is not found in any of 

 the localities where it is used as money, but only in a district 

 on the North coast, known as Nakanai, and extending from 

 one hundred to two hundred miles from here, and probably 

 on to New Guinea. The natives gather the shells along the 

 mangrove coast, to the roots of which trees they are found 

 clinging ; they collect them and tie them up in pandanus 

 leaves, or the stipule of the betel palm, in sutReient quantities 

 to make from three to six fathoms of "tabu." These parcels 

 are exchanged to the natives of the Gazelle Peninsula for 

 European trade — native ornaments or a kind of native money 

 called " pele " which is made on Mioko, a small island of the 

 Duke of Vork Group. This " pele " is made of pieces of white 

 or lavender-coloured shell, drilled and strung on cocoanut fibre, 

 then ground round to about the size of telegraph wire, and 

 made up in lengths of from nine to twelve inches. At 

 Nakanai, the " tabu " shells are used extensively for edging- 

 collars, armlets, anklets, and other ornaments ; for making- 

 necklaces, head-dresses, and for ornamenting spears ; but they 

 sell much more than they use. The natives of the French 

 Islands, which are nearly one hundred miles away to the 

 North, are largely ornamented with these shells, which they 

 obtain from Nakanai through trading expeditions. Some of 

 these shell ornaments are found amongst the natives of the 

 German Protectorate of New Guinea, but we cannot say 

 whence they procure them. The shells when used for orna- 

 ments have more of the back chipped off than when used for 

 " tabu," so as to make them flat ; they have also two apei'tures 

 to admit of being sewn on to ornaments. The natives of the 

 Gazelle Peninsula also use a little of this kind of shell on 

 collars and girdles. 



