NEW GUINEA AND THE PAPUANS 431 



stone, shell, or obsidian. They differ from most Papuans 

 in having no bows and arrows, clubs, or shields ; and 

 their architecture is also peculiar, the houses — in size 

 about 20 by 10 feet — being built on the ground, of an 

 elongated beehive shape, with low walls sometimes made 

 of billets of wood. These and other characteristics prob- 

 ably indicate a mixed origin at a remote period, due to 

 the influx of immigrants from islands to the north and 

 east. The language has some peculiarities which ally 

 the people with the Caroline Islanders rather than with 

 those of New Guinea. 



Under the name of the New Britain group are com- 

 prehended the remaining islands of the Bismarck Archi- 

 pelago, which form an enormous horse-shoe with the 

 concavity turned to the west. At the extremity of the 

 northern arm lies New Hanover, and at that of tlu^ 

 southern is Dampier Strait. New Britain and New 

 Ireland are by far the largest of the group, around which 

 are scattered a number of smaller islands and reefs. 

 Although their existence has been known to Europeans 

 since the time of Schouten and Le Maire, these lands 

 were little visited up to the establishment of the German 

 protectorate, and for a long tune were believed to form 

 part of the mainland of New Guinea. It was not until 

 Dampier sailed, in l700, through the strait that now 

 bears his name that this supposition was proved to be 

 incorrect. He described them as " mountainous and 

 woody, with rich valleys and pleasant fresh -water 

 brooks," while the small volcanic islands in the strait 

 " vomited fire and smoke very amazingly," as they do at 

 the present day. The whole group, indeed, forms an 

 area of great volcanic activity, of which the Gazelle 

 Peninsula of New Britain may be said to be the 

 centre. 



