CHAP. XXXI.] MATS AND BOXES. 257 



handled knife is generally stuck between liis waist-cloth 

 of bark and his bare skin. Each man also possesses a 

 "cadjan," or sleeping-mat, made of the broad leaves of 

 a pandanus neatly sewn together in three layers. This 

 mat is about four feet square, and when folded has one 

 end sewn up, so that it forms a kind of sack open at one 

 side. In the closed corner the head or feet can be placed, 

 or by carrying it on the head in a shower it forms both 

 coat and umbrella. It doubles up in a small compass for 

 convenient carriage, and then forms a Kght and elastic 

 cushion, so that on a journey it becomes clothing, house, 

 bedding, and furniture, all in one. 



The only ornaments in an Aru house are trophies of the 

 chase — jaws of wild pigs, the heads and backbones of 

 cassowaries, and plumes made from the feathers of the 

 Bird of Paradise, cassowary, and domestic fowl. The 

 spears, shields, knife-handles, and other utensils are more 

 or less carved in fanciful designs, and the mats and leaf 

 boxes are painted or plaited in neat patterns of red, black, 

 and yellow colours. I must not forget these boxes, which 

 are most ingeniously made of the pith of a palm leaf 

 pegged together, lined inside with j)andanus leaves, and 

 outside with the same, or with plaited grass. All the 

 joints and angles are covered with strips of split rattan 

 sewn neatly on. The lid is covered with the brown 

 leathery spathe of the Areca palm, which is impervious 



VOL. IT. S 



