266 G. A. J. VAN DER SANDE. 



On Netherlands territory circumcision of Papuan boys does not appear to exist. This 

 is neither the case, according to NACHRICHTEN [1888, 224], in several parts of K. W. Land 

 e. g. on the Augusta River, in other parts it is, however, the custom, but it is impossible to 

 make out whether the usual feast on this occasion, the Barlum feast (SCHELLONG [1889, 116]), 

 really means a "Legimitation zur Heirath". Of an isolation of the girls during a longer or 

 shorter period, as mentioned by CHALMERS [1885, 159] of British N. G., and as met with in 

 Torres Straits (REPORTS [V, 201], Haddon [1900, 421]), nothing is known regarding the Tugeri, 

 except by hearsay. The woman-house, erroneously reported by KONING [1903, 275] of Ajâpo, 

 is the house of the village chief, visible, in fig. 89, in its entire length; MACGREGOR [1897, 

 44, 45] also speaks of "woman-houses" and Van HERWERDEN [1906, 923] on the S.W. coast, 

 saw a settlement, consisting of three houses, of which the middle one was occupied by the 

 women and children, whilst the men lived in the outer ones. 



The initial cérémonies at the âge of puberty in Geelvink Bay consist of the 

 festive dressing with the perineal band (Van Hasselt [1886, 588] ), but festivities, although on 

 a smaller scale, also take place when the girls hâve reached the âge of puberty ; the latter 

 is also the case on Tumleo (ERDWEG [1902, 299]); hère the dressing with the hard bark 

 girdles of the boys who become men [1. c, 308] is accompanied with cérémonies, as isolation, 

 the talking in whispers, and concealment from women; thèse cérémonies bear a decidedly religious 

 character. In H.B. the so-called cock's comb, (see p. 57) is shaved, the hair being henceforth 

 allowed to grow to its full length. To become a man, the youth must now still undergo an 

 isolation in the temple, where he is also initiated into the practices of the religion (see 

 Chapter XII). 



It appears that before marriage absolute chastity of both sexes is the rule in 

 H. B. and on Lake Sentâni. Whether the individuals of both sexes show préférence for each 

 other, as elsewhere by the offer of présents or by concealed sexual connection, and whether 

 marriages take place in conséquence, appears to me very doubtful. Engagements and marriages 

 between children appear only to occur on the S. W. coast of the Netherl. territory (Van DER 

 GOES [1858, 161]). 



The man obtains a wife, as is known of elsewhere, by purchase or capture. Thus 

 the chief of Tobâdi has carried off his second wife from a passing boat, quite unexpectedly. 

 The plan had not been arranged beforehand between the two parties, and the first wife 

 was sent away. The désire to be married is universal and it was recommended to the unmarried 

 members of the expédition with the argument that a married man lives longer than an 

 unmarried one. Meanwhile, on account of the scarcity of the currency beads, which form to 

 a great extent the purchase price, the number of marriages in H. B. is falling off, and of late 

 more women are being taken from Lake Sentâni, because cheaper; thèse women, moreover, are 

 actually more valuable, because they understand fishing, which is not part of the occupation 

 of the H. B. woman. By far the greater number of the older men are married to women of 

 their own village; but there are already some old spinsters in Tobâdi. According to PARKINSON 

 [1900, 23], the young [man in Berlin Harbour prefers to remain a bachelor rather than marry 

 a woman of another village. The Tumleo man, according to ERDWEG [1902, 279], is also 

 guided by practical considérations, preferring to marry a woman of his own tribe, because 

 she understands the art of making pots. On the north coast it is a gênerai rule that the 



