406 COMPENDIUM OF GE0C4P,APHY AND TRAVEL 



of a future state are widely held, and the next world 

 believed by some tribes to be beneath the earth, by 

 others above the clouds. Yery curious are the strict 

 rules of tabu existing in some parts ; in some cases these 

 correspond almost exactly with forms of hlonipa among 

 the Zulus ; thus, for example, the bride and her near 

 relations must avoid the sicrht of the bridegroom and his 

 people until the marriage. Feasts are celebrated on 

 various occasions, such as marriages, burials, and the 

 like, and are accompanied by singing and dancing. 

 Dancing is, in fact, a leading feature in Papuan life ; it 

 is frequently indulged in two or three days, or rather 

 nights, in succession, and barns are sometimes especially 

 built for this amusement on the occasion of great feasts. 

 Cannibalism, though not a general custom, exists in 

 many parts ; the Karons of the north-west indulge in 

 the practice, and it is not uncommon among the tribes of 

 the Gulf of Papua. 



Foremost among the characteristics of the Papuan 

 are his love of decoration and his sense of form, the 

 latter of which is specially shown in his aptitude for 

 carving. While the West African exhibits an almost 

 entire want of proportion in his work, together with 

 crudeness of design and lack of finish, the carving of the 

 Papuan — especially when it -is remembered that it is 

 most frequently executed without iron tools — is singu- 

 larly good both in plan and execution. The pillows or 

 head-rests, formed of two conventional monsters placed 

 back to back and supporting the scroll-work upon which 

 the smooth semi-lunar bar rests, are remarkably good in 

 design, and no two are ever alike. Scroll-work is much 

 used, the koroivaar figures being usually carved with a 

 hand resting upon a shield of this nature. The praus 

 also are frequently adorned with a figure-head of fret- 



