ARMS. 241 



sharpened, but the point very much so. The outer surface of the bone is alvvays nicely 

 polished, the inner one less. According to the value attached to the weapon, it is more or 

 less ornamented , in Humboldt Bay and on Lake Sentâni vvith loop coils, usually applied on 

 carved fish figures ; not unfrequently also the crocodile occurs, also noticed by FlNSCH [1. c.]. 

 The spirals and the fish tail ornament are always wanting on the daggers of more eastern 

 territory (PARKINSON [1900, PL 19, figs. 13 and 14], ERDWEG [1902, fig. 227]), whilst on 

 the other hand the human face, which occurs hère, is not met with in Papua Tâlandjang. In 

 more western parts only the anterior lamella of the shaft (N os . 733 — 35 and 737) and the 

 anterior part of the head of the joint are retained, and in exceptional cases (N°. 720) the dagger 

 consists only of the latéral lamella and the latéral condyle. 



The tarsometatarsus is also used for making a dagger, sometimes with part of the 

 distal condyle as a handle (N os . 717 and 730), and at other times the proximal end of the 

 bone (N°. 736). Especially with old daggers, blackened by smoke, the beauty of the ornaments 

 is not a little increased by the lime applied in the carvings. 



When not in use, the dagger is sometimes put in the bag, but generally it is stuck 

 into the left upper armlet with the point downwards, somewhat forward (fig. 124), the head 

 of the joint preventing it from slipping through; sometimes, however, the point is turned 

 upwards (PI. XXXVIII, fig. 2). In K. W. Land, according to FlNSCH [1. c], the dagger is 

 carried in the right armlet, which in exceptional instances also happens on Netherlands 

 territory (PI. XXXVII, fig. 2). PARKINSON [1900, 29], however, also mentions, for the Berlin 

 Harbour district, the left armlet, and carried in this manner the dagger is, no doubt, better 

 placed for immédiate use with right-handed people. I hâve never noticed the carrying of two 

 daggers at a time as reported by FlNSCH [1. c.]. In Papua Tâlandjang the dagger is not 

 uncommonly suspended round the neck or from the left shoulder in short scabbards 

 (N° 5 . 720, 727, 728, 732, PI. XXVI, figs. 7 and 8), made of cord, with the stitch of fig. 117, 

 with a border as per fig. 43, and suspended by a carrying sling of the same pattern. Thèse 

 scabbards, into which the cylindrical grip-end of the dagger fits exactly, and which are often 

 ornamented with Coix, cord fringe, feathers, etc. hâve not been mentioned before now, and 

 prove, that the dagger is highly esteemed in those parts, and by no means serves for the 

 profane use of a breaker or bodkin, as indicated by FlNSCH [1888 — 93, 60] and BlRO [1899, 

 38, fig. 5] of K. W. Land. 



Clubs, loaded with stones, as used in British New Guinea (THOMSON [1892, 1 75 j, 

 many-pointed star clubs of astonishing geometrical exactitude (D'ALBERTIS [1880, II, 86], 

 ANNUAL REPORT [1903 — 4, 21]), become more scarce on the north coast and towards the west 

 (HAGEN [1899, 178]); in the western part of K. W. Land they only occur arnongst the 

 mountaineers (PREUSS [1897, 102]), whilst they are not mentioned at ail by PARKINSON 

 [1900, 29] of the Berlin Harbour district. On the Netherl. north coast they are wanting, as 

 well as the wooden clubs or swords, mentioned by FlNSCH [1888 — 93, 215], HaGEN[i899, 173] 

 and PARKINSON [1900, 29], of the above parts. When the expédition arrived quite unexpect- 

 edly on Lake Jamûr, I noticed in the settlement of Angâdi, however, a complète club 

 (N°. 738, PI. XXVI, fig. 9), of which the pierced stone, made of quartzite (which minerai, 

 however, does not occur on Lake Jamûr itself), and provided with numerous spikes, was slipped on 

 to a strong handle and retained by the thickened end. A similar club was standing against a 

 Nova Guinea. III. Ethxography. 31 



