174 KFr(iR|i> oi' iin: AfsTl.'AMAN MfSKCM. 



This iTceptacle, known ;i.s ili\ is tioiu ^Itnie\';i ^ ilhifjce, on Snau, or 

 Stacey Island, 8outli CH[te J)isti'ici, Knsteni Division, l':i[)ua. The tube 

 is .111 ordiimiy section of l^aniboo, witli a lenaili ot 1] incites and a diameter 

 of l.T inches, the inteiiiode forniinif tlie bottom, and cajiped by a rind 

 lid. This latter has been identified by Mr. E. Cheel, of the Botanic 

 (Jurdeiis, as the I'ind of a lime (t 'it iii<). Some transverse scratclies ai'e 

 ailded near the upper inaro'in of the tube which may be scars pi'odnced 

 when t)-iniminu- t he lid. 



The tube is about one-third full of what appears to be vegetable 

 mould, and, to (d)tain possession of the pigs, or women folk, of anuthei' 

 native the ownei' follows this procediii-e: — *' Tt) use the charm you dip 

 your finger in cocoanut water and then into the //- . Then you jiass your 

 finger round yoni' lips and pi-oceed to ask the owner of the pig to give 

 him to you. He will give him. The procedure with relation to women 

 is analogous." It was lepresented to (he donoi' as being a " very strong 

 bottle," this descri|itit)n having reference to its poteiu'v foi the purposes 

 indicated. Here we have just the mere possession of a sim[)le bambuu 

 tube of moulil, giving immediate command over the most valuable 

 property of anothei'. There does not appear to be any counter-charm 

 against this pi'actice. 



l''or ma-n^' years a somewhat similar object (Fig- -) has been in the 

 Museum, hitherto without any data other than " Scent Bottle, British 

 New Guinea," and because of their siniilarit}', the Avi-iter luis taken the 

 opportunity of figuring it with the specimen just desci'ibed. It is of wood 

 with a rind lid, but containing leaves. Around the upper margin is a 

 series of raised triangles, and immediately below are some ti-ansverse 

 scratclies as noted on the first specimen. Dimensions : — Height, 2\ inches, 

 inside diameter, 1.', inches, slightly tapering towards the base. 



Very little seems to have been written regaiding this form of soicei-y 



in New (juinea. The only direct refei'ence available is that of Hevan, 



wdnt writes' of " little phials of bamboo containing liquids and solids," as 

 part of the outfit of the Koitapuan sorcerer. 



An official- writing his annual rej)ort records his opinion of the 

 Papuan sorcei'ei' as follows; — "The sorcerer, is withoui doniii. the 

 greatest, curse that Papua is possessed of, and, owing to the over-super- 

 stitious nature of the natives, is an iiiHiience for evil, wherever he e.xen-ises 

 his functions." The same opinion has also been expressed by anothei' 

 t»IHciaI' in the Teii'itorv. 



' Bevan (T. F., F.<i.8.) — '7'oi7. Tnn-vl .nnl JH^^mrrni in Bnli^^li Nnr Gniiu;i. 

 Luuduu, 18!H), ]i. 27. 



•-■ O'lVIallev (.1. T. )■—/'. fj.M.f, .l/uM(i</ l!ri><,rt I'vr thr V.n r nnlnl n'()(hjiiiu\ UK'S, 

 \). 63. 



■ Heaver (^\\'.) — Iln<l.. p. 58. 



