306 



NEJV GUINEA. 



[chap. 



relation. After a certain period has elapsed a feast is given and 

 the mat discarded. 



Shortly after our arrival at Ansus we had made friends with a 

 pleasant-faced, nose-barred savage, who, by the size and finish of 

 his mop and the character of his ornaments, was evidently not a 

 little of a dandy. He was of particularly fine physique, and the 

 ease and grace of his carriage rendered him conspicuous among the 

 others, for the Papuans, unlike most of the African negroes, are not 



CANOE, ANSUS ; WITH WOMAN WEARING MOURNING MAT. 



remarkable in this respect. The hunting of the Birds of Paradise 

 is but little practised in Jobi, but Paperipi, as he was named, 

 appeared to be the greatest authority on the subject, and after a 

 long discussion, it was arranged that he should take all our avail- 

 able hunters, headed by Tahirun, to the best ground he knew of. 

 This lay rather more than a day's journey to the E.N.E., and we 

 accordingly fitted them out with provision and ammunition for a 

 week's absence, and sent them away without loss of time. They 

 were accompanied by a small escort of Ansus men, in case of a 

 meeting with any of the hill people, but we ourselves remained 

 behind, as we were desirous of getting a sketch survey of the 

 harbour and its approaches, while there was at the same time 

 abundant material to employ us close at hand without leaving the 



