Strange Sights in Far-away Papua 571 



Pratt and Some Native Collectors 



work of the house and in the field, they 

 are nevertheless regarded with aiTection. 

 It is erroneous to suppose that they are 

 compelled to be burden-bearers because 

 they are lightly esteemed. As far as my 

 own observation goes, the men are left 

 free of loads, or are given lighter loads, 

 in order that they may be ready to pro- 

 tect the women from the sudden raids 

 of other tribes. Their gardens are often 

 a considerable distance from the village. 



and the women never go to gather yams 

 or taro or to till their patches without an 

 escort of young men as protectors. 



On the other hand, the men are not 

 idle, but perform their part in the eco- 

 nomic system by acting as hunters. Their 

 chief game is the pig, the cassowary, and 

 the wallaby. They hunt this quarry with 

 spears, and drive the game into nets 

 which have been spread between the trees 

 and posts in the forest over considerable 



