CHAPTER II. 



CLOTHING AND ORNAMENT. 



In the state of civilisation which is now-a-days still found to exist amongst the most 

 primitive of the known tribes on New Guinea, it is not easy to draw a line between the 

 objects mentioned at the head of this chapter. „By préférence a Papuan does not dress, as 

 neither climate nor surroundings induce him to this"; thus De CLERCQ ') commences the 

 chapter referred to, acknowledging as the origin of clothing: i° protection against influences 

 of weather, 2° a feeling of propriety. 



To the people of the north coast, as far as they are living on the level of the sea or 

 a little above it, the climate does not ap- 

 pear to ofifer any inducement for clothing. 

 The Papuan on Lake Sentâni (situated about 

 80 M. above the level of the sea), walks 

 about, as fig. 8 shows, without the least 

 bodily covering, uses in his house, even if 

 no fire is burning, often no mat to lie upon, 

 much less a pièce of prepared bark to 

 protect himself against the cold. In the 

 temple of Sâgeisàrâ, situated in a hilly coun- 

 try at an altitude of 3 20 M., the men also slept 

 without covering, whilst the outside air was 

 much cooled down by the night's rain. In 

 the dwellings at Inagôi and Mapâr (fig. 73), 

 resp. 142 M. and 125 M. above the sea and 

 situated pretty far in the interior, small fires 



were smouldering, whilst in the latter house a fireplace extended under the whole 

 length of the men's raised frames for sleeping. This arrangement, which Van OuSTERZEE 



Fig. 8. Papuans on Lake Sentàni 



1) De Clercq and Schmei.tz [1893, 9]. 



