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REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



tilled with a net- work. All sorts of loads are fastened within t his frame 

 and it is borne on the back in. the most comfortable manner to the 

 bearer. (Fig. 54.) 



Fig. 53. 

 Carrier of the Sandwich Islands. 



(From a photograph in the U. S. National Museum. ) 



Fig! 54. 

 Carrying-net and frame. 



(Cat. No. 73386, U. S. N. M. New Guinea. Collected by 

 A. P. Godwin. ) 



In the vast majority of the islands in the great oceanic area the human 

 burden-bearer is transformed into the human propeller, most of the 

 savage life here being passed on the water ; but it is curious to notice 

 that hand-work even here precedes machine work, in that men, women, 

 and children are the most expert swimmers in the world. 



il The women of New Britain," says Mr. W. Powell,* " carry their 

 babies in net-work bags, the band or strap of which comes round the 

 forehead, and the child in the bag rests on their shoulder blades, and in 

 traveling to market and elsewhere, should the child require suckling, 

 they do it over the shoulder. 



"They will also carry on their backs two or three cocoanut-mat bags 

 full of merchandise, as well as the baby; this gives them a stooping 

 gait and makes them always walk in a doubled-up manner, even when 

 not carrying anything." 



* W. Powell, "Wanderings, etc.," London, 1884. 



