294 



THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 



THE DELTA REGION FROM AIRD HILL, GULF OF PAPUA. 



Showing a vast expanse of mangrove forests intersected by endless waterways, 

 which extends for hundreds of square miles, and is inhabited by strange mud- 

 dwellers, who scarcely know what dry land is. 



[Photo. — Captain Frank Hnrleii. 



vary from small hat-like masks to huge 

 structures hfteen feet in height. They 

 are constructed of fibre over a frame- 

 work of cane, and Avonderful patterns 

 are woven upon the surface which are 

 later picked out with red and black 

 upon a white ground colour. A long 

 beak-like snout rejaresents the jaws of a 

 crocodile and a grass skirt covers the 

 bearer who carries the mask over his 

 head upon a central pole. 



Some hundreds of these, in various 

 stages of completion, hung from the 

 walls and along each side of a central 

 aisle, and in the gloomy interior, with 

 the smoke ascending from several fires, 

 appeared so weird and impressive 

 that we subconsciously moved among 

 them quietly and spoke in subdued 

 tones just as one does in a cathedral. 

 All appeared so strange and grotesque 

 that we felt Ave Avere enacting some 

 scene from one of Sir Rider Haggard "s 

 African fantasies. The natives eyed 

 us suspiciously, having little confidence 

 in Hurley's cinema and other cameras, 

 and a wholesome fear of the fiying- 



boat Avliich had descended upon them 

 like a demon from the skies. 



Sullen and brown-skinned, they Avere 

 scantily arrayed in their finery of dog's- 

 teeth necklets, shell armlets, and head- 

 dresses made of the gorgeous plumes 

 of the Bird-of-Paradise. The coming 

 of the "plane called for much discussion 

 among them, and some favored a 

 retirement to the bush to hide from its 

 baneful influence, Avhile others belicA'ed 

 its CA'il spirit could be propitiated Avith 

 an appropriate sacrifice. We en- 

 couraged the latter idea, for it Avould be 

 disastrous to lose such splendid "moAie"' 

 subjects. Accordingly, the life of a 

 large pig Avas abruptly terminated Avith 

 a fcAV Avell-directed arroAvs, and a pro- 

 cession of decorated boAv-men proceeded 

 solemnly toAvards the ' Seagull,'" and 

 laid the sacrifice ceremoniousl}' upon 

 her boAv. 



In addition to being a club-house, 

 and fortress, a ravi is a natiA^e museum 

 and the stronghold of the \ illage sor- 

 cerers. The front portion is a general 

 meeting place Avhere the juniors, freshly 



