228 THE MOLUCCAS. [chap. 



where they often remain limp for weeks after they have been 

 removed from the birds' bodies. This difficulty is obviated by the 

 universal custom in vogue among Malay hunters of fixing a small 

 stick in the base of the skull, the other end of which is allowed to 

 protrude at the vent, thus keeping the head and neck in good 

 position. The skins of Birds of Paradise, as an article of trade, are 

 prepared in quite a different manner, and ahnost always by Papuan 

 natives, not by Malays. Stripped off with little or no care, the 

 legs cut away and the skull removed, the skin is pressed fiat 

 between two strips of bamboo, and smoke-dried ; and, when finished, 

 it bears as little resemblance to a bird as can well be imagined. 

 These specimens are, of course, useless for the cabinets of a 

 naturalist, even if they are not largely moth-eaten, as is usually 

 the case, but great quantities of them are sent to Europe for dress 

 and hat decoration. The trade, which has existed for more than a 

 hundred years, is almost entirely in the hands of Chinamen, and 

 the largest markets in the East are Macassar and Ternate ; Am- 

 Ijoina sendmg a few only to Batavia, 



Through the kind assistance of Mr. Bruijn, we were able to 

 engage hunters for our approaching visit, to New Guinea. We 

 had already three Malays on board, one an English-speaking Singa- 

 pore " boy " who skinned fairly well, the others two hunters we 

 had brought from Malacca — JVIomin and Achi by name, the latter 

 of whom was an excellent fellow and a good observer. We now 

 added nine others, in two lots of five and four, the one headed by 

 Usman, a native of Ternate, the other by Tahirun, a Gilolo man, 

 and one of the most unmitigated scoundrels in appearance I ever 

 came across. Never did any one's face belie their character more. 

 He was an untiring hunter and a good naturalist, spoke two New 

 Guinea languages, and skinned well, and after a little instruction 

 I found that I could depend upon his measurements, accounts of 

 the habits of the birds, and other details as well as if I had made 

 the observations myself. Of the remainder of the men two had 

 visited New Guinea before, and were fairly good shots and skinners. 



