BRITISH NEW GUINEA. 435 



the wparoi'. Tliey \)]evce the ears and ornament them jirofusely 

 with large rings of th(^ wire feathers of tlie cassowary. The 

 septum of the nose is also pierced and likewise ornamented. 

 They encircle the neck with pigtails, parts of the human 

 hody, dried and tanned, and strings of wallaby teeth. While 

 lavishly ornamenting themselves in other respects, they 

 exhibited no indications oftattooing or other special skin marks. 

 Their mode of salutation is to touch the navel, an operation 

 which they perform with special grace. Their weapons 

 consist of the bow and arrow, in the use of which they are 

 remarkably dexterous. At first it was intended to adopt such 

 measures as would probably prevent these pirates from under- 

 taking their usual annual journey eastward for man-hunting 

 purposes, but it was unfortunately discovered, to the great 

 disappointment of the leader, that the Tugeri camp was on 

 Dutch territory. 



In this district spring tides rise and fall 12ft., one full tide 

 occurring once in every 24 hours. The very low tides occur 

 in the evening, when several miles of foreshore are left dry 

 by the receding waters. The current of the i-ising tide sets 

 strongly eastward, and that of the fall towards the west. At 

 9 o'clock the morning calms are replaced by a northerly 

 breeze, which continues till noon, when a strong southerly wind 

 sets in ; after continuing in this direction for several hours it 

 gradually works back again to the northward. Electrical 

 disturbances, associated with heavy precipitation, originating 

 in violent squalls, were of daily occurrence. The recorded 

 minimum and maximum thermometric measurements were 

 75 deg. and 92 deg. Fahr. in the shade. 



Climate. 



Concerning the climate of British New Guinea we are 

 not in possession of sufficient data to enable us to write with 

 any degree of authority, nor yet are we able to contribute 

 anything of special use to climatology. Generally speaking 

 it may be said that the possession is healthy, no dangerous 

 epidemics being known, and, excepting occasional attacks of 

 malarial fever, Europeans suffer no greater inconveniences 

 than residents of other tropical climes. In the Alpine zone 

 of the Owen Stanley Range the climate is apparently dry and 

 bracing, and in the basin of the Upper Fly River the tempera- 

 ture during the night time is invigorating and refreshing, 

 mosquitoes and sandflies being less troublesome than in the 

 coastal districts. Speaking of the climate, Sir Wm. 



