645 



order to make tho armlet, the residual cone was split longi- 

 tudinally, and small blades could thus be made. This use of 

 the Conus shell has, however, now been abandoned, and I 

 was unable to purchase any old specimens, though a few were 

 made for me in the old fashion. 



Baskets. — Several forms of baskets, all of local manufac- 

 ture, were used in Mailu, but I was not able to grasp and 

 record the technological principles of their manufacture. 

 Consequently I can only give a general description of their 

 basketry and mention the varieties. 



1. Apdka. — In this, the rudest form, the basket is simply 

 plaited from a coconut leaf. The midrib is split longitudinally 

 and the leaflets interplaited in such a way that the pieces of 

 rib form the rim of the basket. To this a rough handle is 

 sometimes attached. This form is known all along the 

 southern coast as far as Port Moresby, and I was told that the 

 same kind is used in the Gulf and on the Fly River. Among 

 the Motu it is seldom used, as there the universal use of 

 the string bag (KiapaJ eliminates all need of other receptacles. 

 Among the Mailu the Apdka is used for carrying clay, sand, 

 wood, shellfish, and all sorts of coarse and dirty materials 

 in general. It is very easily made, and its manufacture does 

 not require more than half an hour, but it only lasts for a 

 short time and is readily thrown aside. 



2. Reva. — This kind is similar to the foregoing, being 

 also made of coconut leaves. It is used chiefly for catching 

 fish and shellfish in the Rn' i form of fishing, for which women 

 go out at night with torches of dry coconut leaves (Kareta). 

 It is never used for carrying things. 



3. No^ohoea. — This is a circular-shaped form of basket, 

 made of coconut leaves, in a much more elaborate fashion 

 than is the case with the two preceding kinds. It also is 

 never used for carrying things, but it often serves as a platter, 

 solid food taken out of the cooking pot being placed on this, 

 or on a wooden dish (comp. chap, iii., sec. 1). The No'ohoea 

 is also used sometimes as a strainer in the preparation of 

 coconut cream (Belioro). 



4. Isovo. — This basket, which is solidly made of some 

 kind of cane, is the most important form, serving as the general 

 carrying vessel of the Mailu. It is more or less flat, and has 

 an oval-shaped mouth. Two strands, attached to one side, 

 pass through two holes in the opposite side, and are joined 

 by a broad band of bast. The woman carries the basket with 

 this band across her forehead, the basket resting on her 

 shoulders. In these baskets, and in these alone, heavy loads 

 of native vegetables and firewood are brought into the village 

 from the gardens. It is also used on journeys, when the 



