BY WILLIAM E. ARMIT, F.L.S., F.R.G.S. 105 
A species of spearmint is used at Moresby Island as a perfume 
for dressing the hair. 
Turmeric I found in cultivation at Kabadi, where it is used 
to dye the women’s petticoats. The bark of a mangrove is 
similarly used, as also for tanning nets, lines, and cordage. 
The inland tribes depend for their meat supply on the wallaby 
(Dorcopsis), which they succeed in capturing either with the spear 
ornet. This is eked out by the occasional slaughter of a pig, a 
dog, or of both. 
On the coast they are fishermen, using well-made nets and 
also spearing the fish. The sea yields them a never-failing 
supply of wholesome and palatable food, which in many places 
is further supplemented by the spoils of the chase. 
The inland natives are agriculturalists, and consequently 
averse to roaming about. ‘They live in villages, building 
remarkably comfortable, and often elegant, houses which gene- 
rally stand on piles several feet above the ground. But even 
here life and property are hardly safe from the attacks of neigh- 
bouring tribes, and to guard against these and secure a place 
of refuge, tree-houses or dubus are built in every village. 
These are reached by means of ladders, the last fifteen foot 
length being drawn up, and thus securing those above from 
harm. These tree-forts are well stored with stones, a perfect 
hail of which would put almost any foe to flight. At the 
village of Ouri-bohi-bohi in Sogore, I ascended into a dubu 120 
feet from the ground. I often watched mere children of four 
or five years scrambling up the steep ladder to their roost, quite 
as if it were a matter of course. How many European children 
of that age would attempt the feat ? 
The greater portion of the New Guinea tribes are still in the 
stone-age. Their weapons consist of spears, bows and arrows, 
shields, and heavy stone clubs, through which a hole is bored to 
admit the handle. These clubs are decidedly artistic, and much 
time and trouble are expended in their manufacture. They are 
