48 HrMAJs SKULLS OFFERED FOR SALE. 



enter upon the subject. The natives always objected 

 to shew to us the inside of then- huts, many of which 

 we knew were used as dead houses — but Mr. Huxley 

 to-day was fortunate enough to induce one of them 

 to allow him to enter his house, and make a sketch of 

 the interior, but not until he had ^ven him an axe as 

 an admission fee. These huts resemble a gTeat bee- 

 hive in shape — a central pole projects beyond the 

 roof, and to this is connected a frame work of 

 bamboo, thatched T\ith grass, leaving a single 

 small low entrance to sene as door and Trtindow. 



Several human skulls were broug'ht down for sale, 

 also a httle shrivelled mummy of a child. Some of 

 the former had the skin quite perfect, the nose 

 artificially restored in clay mixed with a resinous 

 substance, and the orbits occupied by a diamond- 

 shaped piece of mother-of-pearl, with a black central" 

 mark. Towards the end of the barteriug the natives 

 had become very noisy, and even insolent, and 

 everj'thing seemed to indicate that some at least of 

 them were dissatisfied, and inclined to resent some 

 injury or cause of offence, for which purpose appa- 

 rently they had their bows and arrows ready, and 

 their gauntlets upon the left fore arm. Some of 

 them desired me to get into the boat and be ofij 

 intended as I understood for a friendly caution, 

 while Dzum came up with an air of profound 

 mystery, wishing me to come with him (now that I 

 was alone) to a neighbouring hut to see a barit 

 which he had brought over for me from Stephens 



