446 STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL chap. 



On the other han^ Lieutenant Bruijn Kops, who visited 

 the north-west coast of New Guinea in 1850, gives the 

 following account of the inhabitants of Dorey : — 



" Their manners and customs are much less barbarous than might 

 be expected. On the contrary they give evidence of a mild dispo- 

 sition, of an inclination to right and justice, and strong moral 

 principles. Theft is considered by them as a grave offence, and is 

 of very rare occurrence. They have no fastenings to their houses, 

 yet seldom or never is anything stolen. Although they were on 

 board our ship or alongside during whole days, we never missed 

 anything. Yet they are distrustful of strangers until they become 

 acquainted with them, as we experienced. This is probably less, 

 however, a trait of their character than the result of intercourse with 

 strangers who perhaps had frequently tried to cheat them. The men, 

 it is true, came on board from the time of our arrival, but they were 

 very cautious in letting any of the things they brought for sale out of 

 their hands. The women were at first very fearful and fled on all 

 sides when they saw us, leaving behind what they might be carry- 

 ing ; but at length when they found they had no injury to dread 

 from us they became more familiar. Finally, they approached 

 without being invited, but remained timid. The children very 

 soon became accustomed to us, and followed us everywhere. 



"Respect for the aged, love for their children, and fidelity to 

 their wives, are traits which reflect honour on their disposition. 

 Chastity is held in high regard, and is a virtue that is seldom 

 transgressed by them. A man can only have one wife, and is bound 

 to her for life. Concubinage is not permitted. Adultery is unknown 

 among them. They are generally very fond of strong drink, but 

 although they go to excess in this, I could not learn that they pre- 

 pared any fermented liquor, not even sago-weer or tuak (palm wine). 

 Kidnapping is general in these countries, and is followed as a branch 

 of trade, so that there is no dishonour attached to it. The captives 

 are treated well, are changed if there are any of theirs in the enemy's 

 hands, or released on payment of a ransom, as was the case in Europe 

 in the middle ages." 



My own experience of the Papuans at Dorey, in 1858, 

 agrees with this account ; and as I lived there for four 

 months with only four Malay servants, going daily unarmed 

 into the forests to collect insects, I was completely in their 

 power had they wished to attack me. A remarkable 

 proof of their honesty occurred to me at the island of 

 Waigiou, where a man who had received payment in 

 advance for Red Birds of Paradise, brought back the money, 

 represented by an axe, when after trying for several weeks 

 he had failed to catch any. Another, who had received 



