48 HUMAN SKULLS OFFERED FOR SALE. 



enter upon the subject. The natives always objected 

 to shew to us the mside of then huts^ many of which 

 we knew were used as dead houses — but Mr. Huxley 

 to-day was fortunate enoug-h to induce one of them 

 to allow him to enter his house, and make a sketch of 

 the interior, but not until he had given him an axe as 

 an admission fee. These huts resemble a g'reat bee- 

 hi^'e in shape — a central pole projects b83"ond the 

 roof, and to this is connected a frame work of 

 bamboo, thatched with g-rass, leaving* a sing-le 

 small low entrance to serve as door and window. 



Several human skulls were broug-ht down for sale, 

 also a little shrivelled mummy of a child. Some of 

 the former had the skin quite perfect, the nose 

 artificially restored in clay mixed with a resinous 

 substance, and the orbits occupied by a diamond- 

 shaped piece of mother-of-pearl, with a black central 

 mark. Towards the end of the bartering* the natives 

 had become very noisy, and even insolent, and 

 everything- seemed to indicate that some at least of 

 them were dissatisfied, and inclined to resent some 

 injury or cause of offence^ for which purpose appa- 

 rently they had their bows and arrows ready^ and 

 theii' g"auntlets upon the left fore arm. Some of 

 them desired me to g-et into the boat and be off, 

 intended as I understood for a friendly caution, 

 while Dzum came up with an air of profound 

 m^'stery, wishing* me to come with him (now that I 

 was alone) to a neig-hbouring* hut to see a harit 

 which he had broug'ht over for me from Stephens 



