CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. 



History of Visits to the Island. Eagerness of the Natives for Iron. 

 Trade Gear. Trading with the Natives. Geological Structure of 

 the Islands. Orchids and Ferns overhanging the Sea. Fern 

 resembling a Liverwort. Difficulties in Collecting Words of their 

 Language from the Natives. Their Methods of Counting. Curious 

 Mode of Expressing- Negation. Physical Characteristics of the 

 Natives. Hairiness of Races Compared. Possible Signitication of 

 Moles. Clothes, Hair Dressing and Ornaments of the Natives. 

 Tattooing and Painting. Betel-Chewing and Food. Houses, 

 Temples, and Canoes of the Natives. Their Implements and 

 Weapons. Artistic Skill of the Natives. Their Musical Instru- 

 ments, Dancing and Singing. Their Polygamy. Fortification of 

 their Villages. Wooden Gods. Skulls and Hair in their Temples. 

 Their Religion. Disposition of the Natives. Their Fear of Goats 

 and Toys. Population of the Islands. Domestic Animals, Birds 

 and other Animals at the Islands. Habits of Gar-Fish. 



The Admiralty Islands, March 3rd to 10th, 1875.— The 

 Admiralty Islands were sighted on the afternoon of March 3rd. 

 As we sailed along the north coast of the main island, a Sword- 

 fish was seen showing its fins above water. It moved rapidly 

 with a darting motion but sinuous course. It was apparently 

 about five feet long. The fins showed above water, very 

 differently from those of any other fish. The broad dorsal fin 

 projected from the water in front, and the upper sickle-shaped 

 half of the tail fin projected at an interval behind, and seemed 

 as the fish moved to be chasing the fin in front. The fish 

 was seen to leap out of the water several times. It was pro- 

 bably a species of Histiophoriis. 



The Admiralty Islands are a group, consisting of one large 

 island and numerous small ones. The group lies betv.-een 

 latitudes 1° 58' S., and 3° 10' S., and longitudes 146° E. and 

 148° 6' E. between 100 and 200 miles south of the equator. 

 It is distant from New Hanover 130 miles, and from the 

 nearest point of New Guinea about 150 miles. 



The large island of the group is oblong in form, and has an 

 area of about 550 square miles, being thus about twice as 



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