48 HUMAN SKULLS OFFERED FOR SALE. 



enter upon the subject. The natives alwaj^s objected 

 to shew to us the inside of their huts^ many of which 

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

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

 to alloAv 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- 

 hive in shape— a central pole projects be3"ond the 

 roof, and to this is connected a frame work of 

 bamboo^ thatched with gi-ass^ 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 

 their 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 

 m3^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 



