>56 



G. A. J. VAN DER SANDE. 



shell rings, etc.; hère also the joint meals are taken. Inside are fireplaces, above which 

 hang baskets with ail sorts of things preserved in the smoke, also head supports, lances, 

 arrows, bows and daggers. This pyramid-shaped house has no centre pôle, and I hâve never 

 seen there any drums or bamboo flûtes, characteristic of the temples on the coast, nor did 

 I ever notice any religious proceedings going on. A pig, shot during the hunt, was hovvever 

 brought to this watch-house with singing, and afterwards eut up inside. Quite close to Asé 

 a small, rocky island is situated, near which, to the side of Asé, a pyramid-shaped watch- 

 house (fig. 160) has also been placed, no doubt to prevent an enemy hiding there. On the 

 ridge of the island is a path, and from there an unlimited view can be obtained towards 

 the side of the hostile Ifâr. Ajâpo has also a few of such pyramid-shaped watch-houses, 

 and Ifâr possesses two octagonal ones. The one (fig. 161), built in the water, on the 

 deserted eastern side of the island, was finished in April 1903, the top exceedingly pointed 

 and somewhat oblique ; it offers a good out-look in the direction of Asé. The other 



(fig. 162), provided on 

 the outside with ani- 

 mal figures, is placed 

 on the top of the island 

 and is on fig. 161, to 

 the left, just visible 

 above the trees. In 

 1901 the ofiieers of 

 H. M. gunboat Ceram 

 heard nightly, festive 

 noises inside, and it is, 

 therefore, not impro- 

 bable, that the desti- 

 nation of this house 

 corresponds partly to 

 that of the temples 

 along the coast, with 

 which it has so much 

 resemblance in shape 

 and ornament. I hâve 

 no personal expérience 

 in this matter, as my hasty visit to Ifâr did not extend any further than the community 

 house, visible in the foreground, where the village chief was joined by a large quantity of 

 men and where almost the entire population of the village had gathered. It is, therefore, ail 

 the more remarkable that, during that visit, still a number of men, also to be distinguished 

 in the illustration, remained in the immédiate vicinity of the watch-house. 



There is a for m of making peace by breaking the weapons (ANNUAL Report 

 [1894 — 95, 43]), also by shooting arrows into the air (MaCGREGOR [1897, 66]), or towards a 

 person, before his feet (see also p. 276). 



Eig. 162. Pyramid-shaped watch-house; Ifar. 



