388 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 



it is not so plentiful as sandstone. Although frequent tests 

 were made, no gold was found in any " wash " beyond Sir William 

 MacGregor's farthest. The occurrence'of coal may have some day 

 an economic importance. West of the head waters of the Purari 

 pieces of coal were noted in the creeks. A seam of coal 9 feet thick 

 was seen near the head of that river, and the country about Abukiru 

 Island has every appearance of being coal-bearing. Pebbles of 

 basalt were seen in the water courses, indicating probably basalt 

 capped ranges. 



We reached a point from which we could make out a valley, 

 evidently the head of the Kikori, a river 70 miles west of the Purari, 

 but it was useless to attempt to follow down the rough limestone 

 gorges. After more than one attempt to push out west, we were 

 convinced that to cross to the Fly River or to any of the nearer 

 streams that lead to the coast was a prize for some more fortunate 

 explorer. 



As an illustration of the climate on the Upper Purari, I may say 

 that in seven consecutive days I measured a total of 11 inches of rain. 

 Under such conditions is it any wonder that the face of this country 

 is carved into gorges and chasms, and that the limestones are c\it 

 down and caves eroded? 



From July 30th to October 20th we never once got a view of 

 the moon, clouds, fogs, or mists shutting out the view. For 25 

 consecutive nights no stars were visible and no star observations 

 could be taken. 



On the whole the natives were not troublesome, though, as 

 may be expected, at times they became aggressive. During the 

 trip only one " boy " was killed outright, and three others 

 wounded by arrows. On one occasion only they made a night 

 attack. 



The natives we met near Beroie are physically fine men ; they 

 live in small palm-leaf shelters ; though we saw the ruins of one 

 two-storeyed house and the remains of deserted gardens. The 

 tallest of these men was about 5 ft. 7 in., broad, and deep- 

 chested. They wear nose ornaments, which are made of the 

 spines of the cassowary wing, fixed in a small cane-grass cylinder, 

 which is passed through the central division of the nose, the spines 

 extending on either side about four inches. They also thread 

 a long spine through the point of the nose, which curves upwards 

 towards the forehead. The natives who adorn themselves in 

 this way have not been met with elsewhere in New Guinea. They 

 wear ear-rings made from the same sort of spines, necklaces of 

 cane-grass seeds, cassowary feathers adorn their hair, and they 

 wear armlets of lawyer cane (these, I understand, are used for 

 fire-making), also a variety of ornaments hung round their necks. 



The Samia natives are somewhat similar ; but some of them 

 carry a lance five feet long made of black palm, as well as bow 

 and arrows. 



West of the Purari watershed we found the natives much 

 more numerous, having substantial houses some 130 feet long, 



