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THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 



THE PAPUASIANS. 

 ( MELANASIAN DIVISION. ) 



These are shorter than the true Pa- 

 puan, the nose more depressed, and the 

 hair less frizzy. These people have been 

 described as the earliest race to popu- 

 late the islands of the South Pacific. 

 Their range includes the south-east of 

 New Guinea, and the islands eastward 

 as far as Fiji, where the mingling with 

 the Polynesians, already mentioned, has 

 taken place. This intermixture is slight- 

 ly less apparent in New Caledonia. The 

 following groups are considered to be 

 more or less pure Melanesian: — Ad- 

 miralty, New Britain, New Ireland, Solo- 

 mon, and New Hebridean Groups. 



As a race the Melanesians are closely 

 allied to the negroes, but differ con- 

 siderably from the aborigines of Aus- 

 tralia. As the name implies they are 

 normally dark-complexioned, although 

 not all of uniform tint. 



The Admiralty folk for 

 many years bore the unen- 

 viable reputation of being a 

 treacherous and canniljalistic 

 race. Their weapons consist 

 of spears and daggers, bear- 

 ing points or blades of ob- 

 sidian, a volcanic glass oc- 

 curring in the group. These 

 weapons are also made with 

 the barb or armature of the 

 stingray. Thfe Admiralty is- 

 landers are adept at con- 

 structing large bowls cut 

 from solid logs and pro- 

 vided with elaborate fret- 

 work handles. The crocodile 

 is frequently re]iresented in 

 their carvings, and shell- 

 bladed adzes are peculiar to 

 the Admiralty Group. Huge 

 cylindrical drums are also to 

 be found in the villages. 



The New Britain people 

 make enormous fish traps 

 and use shell-money. Their 

 weapons are varied ; the 

 most striking, in more senses 

 than one, is the heavy stone- 

 beaded club. New Britain 

 seems to hr the hmiic nl' 



seci'et societies par excellence in the 

 Pacific. 



The New Irelanders are very adept 

 at woodcarving. On view in the Museum 

 one may see an extensive series of what 

 were once solid logs intricately carved 

 with all manner of devices mostly of a 

 zoological nature. 



The Solomon Islanders are noted for 

 their beautiful shell inlay work. Sec- 

 tions of the pearl oyster and Nautilus 

 are largely used, being set in the resin 

 of the Parinarium fruit. Canoes, figures, 

 weapons, ornaments, all partake in some 

 measure of this form of decoration. 



The New Hebrideans are of smaller 

 stature than the average Melanesian. 

 Among the features which dijstinguish 

 the inhabitants of the New Hebrides 

 may be mentioned the custom of de- 

 forming the human head in infancy, the 

 absence of pottery except in Espiritu 

 Santo, the use of feathered arrows, and 

 government by chiefs, who claim to have 



Woman, 

 Hibiscus 



New Hebrides. Diminutive Melanesians, wearing 

 bark dresses. 



Photo^Dr. G. Brown. 



