BY WILLIAM E. ARMIT, FL.S, F.R.G.S. 109 
people is the practice of prostitution, which obtains at Teste, 
Moresby, Dinner, and otherislands. The women practising it do not 
seem to lose caste, and they at once become virtuous on marrying. 
No married woman could attempt sucha course of conduct with- 
out incurring serious danger; butcases dooccurof women leaving 
their husbands, and running away witha lover. Onesuch came 
under my notice at Kabadi. The enraged husband collected his 
friends, and, with their assistance, destroyed all the banana 
plantations, cocoanut palms, and other things belonging to the 
destroyer of his domestic happiness. Even his: pigs were 
immolated on the altar of outraged honour. A great feast re- 
sulted, as the friends collected the bananas, yams, and betel-nut, 
and roasted the pigs. This seemed to me a decidedly practical 
way of punishing the criminal, although the destruction of so 
many cocoanut palms might have been avoided. 
One of the most terrible results of the Queensland slave 
trade—I use the term advisedly—has béen the introduction of 
syphilis among the inhabitants of Teste Island. Even little 
girls of ten years were suffering from this terrible scourge when 
I last visited the Island. The unfortunate savages had no idea 
of the real nature of this dire malady, but laid the blame on 
evil spirits. 
It was introduced from Mackay or Townsville by the native 
interpreters of the “ Lizzie.” 
The people of Dédouri blind their pigs with lime to prevent 
hem from getting into the plantations. Everywhere in New 
Guinea pigs constitute the most valuable property. They are 
reared by the women, who may be seen daily suckling their 
little pets, or feeding them from an earthenware crock. 
Puppies are similarly reared, and these animals share a mother’s 
milk with her baby. The practice of suckling children into 
their third and even fourth year prevails. 
Wives are bought, the articles given being various, and in 
quantities suited to the rank of the bride. Shell armlets, toma- 
