Australian, and Malayu- Polynesian Nations. 221 
that the hair receives the greatest attention. These open out the 
ringlets by means of a bamboo comb, shaped like an eel spear, with 
numerous prongs spreading out laterally, which operation produces 
an enormous bushy head of hair, which has procured them the name 
of ‘‘Mop-headed Papuans.’? Among the natives of the Feejee 
Aslands (the eastermost limit of the Oriental Negro race), the opera- 
tion of dressing the hair occupies the greater part of a day. 
The hair of the beard and whiskers, which generally grows very 
thick and bushy, is arranged in little tufts similar to those of the 
head; and the same peculiarity is found to exist in the hair with 
which the breasts and shoulders of the men are often covered; but 
the tufts are here farther apart than on the head and chin, 
__ This woolly or twisted hair is peculiar to the full-blooded Papuans. 
A comparatively slight mixture with the brown-complexioned or 
Malayu-Polynesian race appears to destroy the peculiarity. The 
hair of people of the mixed race covers the surface of the head, or, 
at least, has done so in all cases that have come under my observa- 
tion, and is sometimes only slightly curled. It is, therefore, very 
easy to distinguish the pure Papuans; and throughout this essay, 
those only will be called by that name who possess this their lead- 
ing characteristic. 
The term Papuan is derived from a Malayan word, ‘* Papua, or 
Pua-Pua,” crisp-haired. The term ‘‘ Tanna Papua,” or “ Land 
of the Crisp-haired,” is applied by them not only to New Guinea, 
but to all the adjacent islands, which are occupied exclusively by this 
race. It is so peculiarly applicable and comprehensive, and so en- 
titled to respect, as having been conferred by a people who must 
haye known them for ages before we ever heard of their existence, 
that, I trust, the ethnologists of Europe will excuse me for retain- 
ing it in preference to the newly-invented term ‘“ Melanesian,” or 
_ “inhabitants of the black islands,” which, although applicable enough 
to the Papuans, is equally applicable to the greater portion of the 
Australian tribes. 
The features of the Papuans have a decidedly Negro character ; 
_ broad, flat noses, thick lips, receding foreheads and chins, and that 
_ turbid colour of what should be the white of the eye which gives to 
the countenance a peculiar sinister expression. Their complexion is 
vuniyersally a deep chocolate colour, sometimes closely approaching 
to black, but certainly a few shades lighter than the deep black that 
_ is often met with among the Negro tribes of Africa. 
* With regard to stature, a great difference is found to exist between 
; “various tribes, even in New Guinea, and which has led to much con- 
»tusion..in the description given by travellers, who have, perhaps, 
‘each only seen a single tribe. On the south-west coast of New 
~ Guinea, within the space of one hundred miles, are to be found 
_ tribes whose stature is almost gigantic, and others whose propor- 
»tionsare soo diminutive as almost. to, entitle them to the appel- 
lation of pigmies; while the manners and customs. of each ‘so 
