POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 279 



third of its width is kept quite clear, forming a noble covered 

 promenade, though rather dark, as the only light proceeds from 

 the large doors at the end and the little side doors between 

 the cabins. 



Mofet accounts describe tlie ho-nesty of the Papuans as 

 superior to that of the Polynesian race, and they seem to be 

 less eagerly addicted to pilfering ; they are, however, commonly 

 much more hostile and ferocious, sometimes waging open 

 warfare, sometimes having recourse to the grossest treachery. 

 Travellers mention them honourably for the treatment of their 

 women. Mr. Jukes never saw a woman beaten or abused 

 among the Torres Straits Islanders, and in all th-e harder kinds 

 of work the men appeared to take their fair share of labour. 

 Their care and affection for their children: seemed always great. 

 Although wanting in the engaging liveliness and fascinating 

 manners of some of the eastern Polynesian nations, they are of 

 a cheerful disposition, readily engaging in sports and amuse- 

 ments, and their curiosity is easily excited by anything 

 interesting or uncommon. When bartering with Europeans 

 they show their good sense in preferring useful articles to mere 

 ornaments. 



The political institutions of the Papuans are extremely 

 primitive. We do not hear of any division into- ranks or of any 

 hereditary chieftainship or authority among them. They 

 apparently live in small tribes, hostile th-e one to the other. 

 They have never attained to any great skill in navigation. 

 Their canoes are commonly small, rudely fashioned, and unfit 

 to encounter the swell of the open sea. Their agriculture is 

 very rude and they seem in no instance to cultivate rice or any 

 other sort of grain. No genuine Papuan nation has been known 

 to have invented or practised the art of making any kind of 

 cloth. Their favourite weapons are the bow and arrow, in the 

 use of which they are very expert, but they appear never to 

 have acquired anything like discipline or skill in warfare, 

 although apparently more constantly engaged in it than the 

 Polynesians. 



Of their mode of fighting, the following account of a skirmish 

 witnessed by Mr. Jukes gives us a good idea. ' The hostile 

 parties approached each other at full speed to within about 

 thirty or forty .^ yards, when they both halted, sheltering 



