CUSTOMS AND GOVERNMENT. 28 1 



That the community houses, which also occur elsewhere, but in other shapes, as the 

 -alol" of K. W. Land (MEYER and PARKINSON [1894, PI. 43], PARKINSON [1900, 35]), the 

 t kwod" of Torres Straits (REPORTS [V, 173]), the 'marea" of British N. G. (D' ALBERTIS 

 [1880, I, 319]), hâve any religious meaning,, one may assume e. g. from the nature of the 

 ornament, in which the crocodile often occurs. Haddon [1900, 276] calls the club houses of 

 British X. G. "the centre of the social, political and religious life of the men". In Papua 

 Tâlandjang, they hâve, no doubt, less to do with religion and on Lake Sentâni I hâve often 

 met women inside, which in this case, excludes a religious meaning. 



Of Geelvink Bay no community houses are known, the front platforms (pag. 132) of the 

 common turtle-shaped dwelling houses serving as meeting places for the men, as is also 

 reported by Haddon [1900, 421] of the long houses on the Fly River. 



In the settlements of the Manikion, which always consist of one building, one of the 

 men, by no means always the oldest, is called "■major" and armed with the authority; with 

 thèse governors the expédition conducted the négociations concerning guides, carriers, etc. 



On Lake Jamïir, at Angàdi, the expédition was received by two chiefs in European 

 dress, who had hoisted the Netherlands flag, whilst the greater part of the population had 

 fled. With their help we got the necessary boats and guides, but I hâve not been able to 

 ascertain how far the authority of thèse leading men extends. 



It is the gênerai opinion of travellers in New Guinea, that the Papuan is very fond 

 of feasts, the noise of which only too often disturbs the night's rest. But I must at the 

 same time observe that the inland tribes generally hâve much fewer feasts and that at Asé 

 during the 15 days of my stay, not a single nightly feast took place. 



In thèse feasts also the intimate social life of the villagers shows itself, in so far as 

 small feasts limited to one family, or to the inhabitants of one house, do not occur; what- 

 ever may be the occasion, it is always kept up by the whole community. The catching of 

 a big sea turtle by men of Ingrâs was the occasion for such a feast, held in Tobâdi together 

 with the other villages. After the shot boar (see p. 157), had been brought into the temple, a 

 similar feast took place, and each of the invited guests, including the members of the 

 expédition, received a small pièce to take home. For so far as that day's feast (S* of July) 

 took place on the platform, it was in no way connected with boar hunting, but, according 

 to the people, it was now the time for this feast, for this dance. It meant a New Year's 

 feast (see also ANNUAL Report [1902 — 03, 23]) and I got the impression, that since the 

 15* of June, when the ornamental staves (see p. 298) had been placed, a period of festivities 

 had begun, probably on account of the beginning of the east monsoon. 



At Tobâdi the feasts were celebrated either in the temple or on the large platform 

 situated in front. In the latter case, the young men of the temple, who must remain hidden 

 from the women, may never take any part in it. The oldest men generally limit themselves 

 to looking on, but otherwise there are feasts in which both sexes participate and others from 

 which the women are excluded. As to most feasts, if not to ail, a religious character must 

 be granted, the further considération of them finds a place under Chapter XII. 



Nova Guinea. III. Ethnography. 36 



