14 2 G. A. J. VAN DER SANDE. 



isolated sandbanks and can only be reached by boats. Tobâdi has besides a large plat for m; 

 the same has Kajô Entsâu, near the temple, part of it being visible in fig. 85 ; it was, appa- 

 rently, under repairs in 1903 and in rough weather the boats were placed on this platform. 

 The village of Seisârâ on Lake Sentâni has a similar platform, also built above the water 

 (fig. 92); I came across it in no other village. 



Lake Sentâni which has depths up to 26 fathoms and possesses no sand banks, is 

 only close to the 'shore fit for the placing of houses. Therefore the shape of the villages is 

 ruled by the direction of the shore line; thus Ajâpo is built along both sides of a peninsula, 

 Asé round an island, as well as Ifâr, Simbârâ in a bend, Seisârâ along a promontory. I still 

 wish to remark that the temples and the young men's houses are generally built at or near to 

 one of the corners of the villages, presumably in the interest of defence, but perhaps also 

 in the interest of the seclusion to which the young raen hâve sometimes hère to submit, and 

 for which purpose also partitions and fences of palm leaves are made, with openings, covered 

 with dépendent palm leaf fibres. 



Stockaded villages, as known in British N. G. (ANNTJAL REPORT [1S97 — 98, 15], 

 SELIGMANN [1906, 234, 237]), I hâve not noticed in Netherl. N. G. The fencing-in of each dwelling 

 is also reported (Annual Report [1894 — 95, 15, 41], Schmeltz [1904, 199]). Otherwise, dwellings, 

 which hâve been temporarily deserted, appear to be safe against robbery, if only, by the 

 placing of bark or mats in front of the house, it is indicated that the inhabitants are absent 

 and admittance to the house is prohibited. The objects placed in front hâve a meaning, which 

 it is often difficult to probe; probably always something is hidden hère which is connected 

 with the idea of „tabu". Thus the settlement of Nagramâdu, through which the expédition 

 passed on the 4* of August 1903, appeared to be then quite deserted, whilst houses and gardens 

 were well stocked ; what means had been adopted hère against theft, I do not know. In Humboldt 

 Bay a palm leaf with plaited sideleaves is often sufficient; in the west (Van DlSSEL [1904, 947, 

 fig. 3; I904 b , 806] ail sorts of objects are used, called kèra-kèra and it is considered to be 

 a crime against the person of the depositor to disturb the same. 



As regards the further arrangement of the houses in gênerai, it was noticed 

 that usually the door openings can be closed by doors made of palm leaf stalks, to be fastened 

 on the inside in such a manner that it is impossible to force them without making a noise. 

 Separate noise-creating objects, as the bunch of nut shells, which would rattle at an attempt 

 at house-breaking, as met with by CHALMERS [1885, 88], I hâve never seen. The door is, 

 during the day, the principal source of light, which is further admitted through the defects 

 in the roof and often parts of a house remain inhabited, when another part has already 

 fallen to pièces. The custom that when the owner of a house dies the house is deserted and 

 allowed to fall into decay (ANNUAL Report [1903 — 04, 10]) surely is not the rule on Nether- 

 lands territory. After sunset the fire place is the only source of light; torches as customary 

 -when fishing, I never saw used in the houses, but to my regret I never participated in one 

 of the numerous nightly feasts. At ail events my petroleum hand lantern, suspended outside 

 the tent at Asé, excited genuine admiration, and even more, for after the first night I was 

 requested not to leave this lantern hanging about outside any more during the night, as 

 otherwise, without an}' doubt, people from other villages would corne and steal it. Now a 

 Papuan does not easily risk himself, with the intention of stealing, in a strange village during 



