Dutch New Guinea 



473 



cent insects the world contains, the great 

 bird- winged butterfly (Ornithoptera po- 

 seidon). I trembled with excitement as 

 I saw it coming majestically toward me, 

 and could hardly believe I had really suc- 

 ceeded in my stroke till I had taken it out 

 of the net and was gazing, lost in admira- 

 tion, at the velvet black and brilliant 

 green of its wings, seven inches across, 

 its golden body, and crimson breast." At 

 Sorong these were flying very high, as 

 is their wont, but by climbing the tree and 

 using a small collecting gun and dust 

 shot, out of a number brought down, 

 some almost perfect ones were obtained. 

 Later we got the chrysalides and splendid 

 examples emerged after about thirty 

 days. 



In coming to Papua from Malasia 

 it is the sudden contrast in the people 

 which makes the most startling impres- 

 sion on one's mind. The Malay, grave, 

 reserved, and dignified, is as unlike his 

 New Guinean neighbor as a Chinaman is 

 unlike a European. These islanders are 

 a happy, boisterous lot until some little 

 thing offends them, when they at once 

 become sullen and treacherous ; but as 

 we had no occasion to cross them, we got 

 along most admirably. They often helped 

 us collect with real enthusiasm, a set of 

 rude drawings of various beasts showing 

 them for what we would barter. 



Over all Dutch New Guinea tobacco, 

 or "sembacoo," as the natives call it, is 

 the -most sought for "trade." Next in 

 popularity comes brass wire, then cloth, 

 red being demanded in some localities 

 and blue in others. Beads and knives 

 are also most useful. The tobacco is put 

 up for this trade in Rotterdam, marked 

 "The Rising Hope" (in Dutch), and con- 

 tained in a blue wrapper ; curiously 

 enough any other sort is absolutely re- 

 fused by the people. They smoke it and 

 chew it. They are very fond of walking 

 up to you and taking a cigar or cigarette 

 directly from your mouth and walking 

 away puff it with perfect unconcern. 

 When going ashore every article of value 

 (from the Papuan standpoint) must be 

 left behind. The conception of the differ- 

 ence between mewn and teum is not defi- 

 nite, and to try to keep a thing from a 



native by force is — well, a proceeding of 

 doubtful safety. 



In the extreme northwest of New 

 Guinea and on the neighboring island of 

 Waigiu the people are similar. Here 

 has taken place the longest intercourse 

 with the Malays, for until the Dutch 

 came, the Sultan of Ternate was suzerain 

 of this part of Papua. There has been a 

 mingling of blood, as is shown by some 

 individuals being of a lighter color than 

 is common, and also by the occasional oc- 

 currence of wavy instead of curly hair. 



The pure Papuan is very dark brown, 

 usually a well-built, thick-set man of me- 

 dium height. Occasional individuals are 

 seen who are slight, short, and who have 

 strongly "marked Negrito characteristics. 

 These probably represent survivals of the 

 very earliest human inhabitants of the re- 

 gion, as were the Negritos in the Philip- 

 pines. Out on the Pacific coast toward 

 German territory the human type is 

 markedly different. Here in varying de- 

 grees we meet people who have character- 

 istics of other island groups to the east- 

 ward, for there have probably been acci- 

 dental colonizations along this shore by 

 both Melanesians proper and Polynesi- 

 ans. To attempt to describe these physi- 

 cal types would be beyond the writer's 

 powers and the scope of this paper; the 

 photographs serve to illustrate this point. 



The houses which these people build 

 are of much interest. They are gener- 

 ally well made, often with attempts at 

 artistic decoration, and always most pic- 

 turesque. In the northwest the Malay 

 type prevails. We find each family with 

 its own house. This is placed on poles 

 out in the water with sides of "attap," or 

 pandannus mat, and roof of thatch. This 

 thatch is made by taking sago palm leaves 

 and braiding the blades all on one side of 

 the midrib. These are then laid on as 

 clapboards would be, and make an ex- 

 cellent water-tight roof. 



COMMUNAL HOUSES 



In Geelvink Bay, at Dorey, Roon, or on 

 Jobi Island the regular house is a long 

 communal structure. These great "tur- 

 tle-back" houses shelter from 80 to 100 

 people. They eat and sleep generally in 



