4. Oo 
224 Leading Characteristics of the Papuan, 
Papuans. In the first instance, they wear a roll of plantain leaf in 
the orifice, which, by its elasticity, enlarges it to a sufficient size te 
admit the thigh bone of a large bird, or some other ornament, which 
is then worn extending across the face on all great occasions. Our 
sailors have a very quaint name for this practice, which often comes 
under their observation among the Papuan islands of the Pacific; 
they call it ‘‘sprit-sail yarding,” after a cruel method they have of 
treating sharks and dog-fish, which are frequently let go after hay- 
ing been hooked, a piece of wood being previously thrust through 
their nostrils, which, projecting on either side, prevents them from 
getting their heads under water, and they die a lingeri ing and pain- 
ful death. I have never met vvithe or heard of this practice of boring 
the nose among people of the Malayu-Polynesian race; and I may 
say the same with regard to the scarifications mentioned above. 
The latter, or rather those among them who are sufficiently barbarous 
to resort to personal disfigurement, seem to have adopted tatooing and 
boring the ears in lieu of the more coarse and painful a 
work “of the Papuans, 
Filing or grinding down the front teeth, until they become pointed, 
is practised by some of the tribes of New Guinea and of the adja- 
cent islands of the Pacific. This custom, however, is not confined 
exclusively to the Papuans, as it is practised also at the Pagi Islands, 
on the west coast of Summatra, the natives of which appear to be 
Malayu-Polynesians. This custom must not be confounded with 
one which is common among many of the Malayan and Bugis tribes, 
that of grinding down the front teeth, until they become almost 
level with the gum. 
Another singular custom, which is only met with among the 
Papuans, or the tribes closely bordering on them, is that of dyeing 
the hair (which is naturally black) a reddish or flaxen colour, by 
using applications of burnt coral and sea-water, in some instances, 
and preparations of wood-ashes, in others. This process seems to 
expel all the dark colour from the hair, leaving it a flaxen tinge, 
which appears to bear a close resemblance to the celebrated ‘‘ capil- 
lus flavus,’ so much admired among the Roman ladies, and which 
seems to have been produced by a similar process. The only Ma- 
layu-Polynesians that I have known to practise this custom are some 
of the natives of Timor, Laut, Sermattan, and Baba (islands lying 
to the westward of New Guinea, and not very remote). I am, there- 
fore, induced to consider it as a Papuan, or rather, perhaps, as a 
“ Negro” custom, for it is equally prevalent in many parts of Africa, — 
especially among the Soumaulis and other tribes in their neighbour- 
hood. Travellers who have had opportunities of visiting our port at 
Aden, in the course of their voyages between Europe and India by — 
the overland route, may have observed this custom among the Afri- 
can coolies employed in coaling the steamer, who sometimes oyieet 
with the plaster of coral still attached to their heads. 
- 
