SHELLS AS ORNAMENTS 99 



The native Papuans employ shells for an immense variety 

 of purposes. Circlets for the head are formed of rows of JVassa 

 gihbosula^ rubbed down till little but the mouth remains. Neck- 

 laces are worn which consist of strings of Oliva^ y<^^^i^g Avicula, 

 Natica melajio stoma ^ opercula of Turbo, and valves of a rich 

 brown species of Cardium^ pendent at the end of strings of 

 the seeds known as Job's tears. StrutMolaria is rubbed down 

 until nothing bat the mouth is left, and worn in strings round 

 the neck. This is remarkable, since Struthiolaria is not a 

 native Papuan shell, and indeed occurs no nearer than New 

 Zealand. Sections of Melo are also worn as a breast ornament, 

 dependent from a necklace of cornelian stones. Cypraea erosa 

 is used to ornament drinking bowls, and Ovulum ovum is 

 attached to the native drums, at the base of a bunch of cas- 

 sowary feathers, as well as being fastened to the handle of a 

 sago-beater. 



In the same island, the great Turho and Conns inillepunctatus 

 are ground down to form bracelets, which are worn on the 

 biceps. The ciimson lip of Sty^omhus lulnianus is cut into beads 

 and perforated for necklaces. Village elders are distinguished 

 by a single Ovulum verrucosum^ worn in the centre of the fore- 

 head. The thick lip of Cassis cornuta is ground down to form 

 nose pieces, 4| inches long. Fragments of a shell called Ka'ima 

 (probably valves of a large Spondylus) are worn suspended from 

 the ears, with little wisps of hair twisted up and thrust through 

 a hole in the centre. For trumpets, Cassis cornuta^ Triton 

 tritonis^ and Ranella lampas are used, with a hole drilled as a 

 mouthpiece in one of the upper whorls. Valves of Batissa^ 

 Unio^ and Mytilus are used as knives for peeling yams. Spoons 

 for scooping the white from the cocoa-nut are made from 

 Avicula margaritifera. Melo diadema is used as a baler in the 

 canoes.^ 



In the Sandwich Islands Melampus luteus is worn as a 

 necklace, as well as in the Navigator Islands. A very striking 

 necklace, in the latter group, is formed of the apices of a 

 Nautilus^ rubbed down to show the nacre. The New Zealanders 

 use the green opercula of a Turbo, a small species of Venus^ and 

 Cypraea asellus to form the eyes of their idols. Fish-hooks 

 are made throughout the Pacific of the shells of Avicula and 



J C. Hedley in J, P. Thomson, Brit. Neio Guinea, p. 283. 



