BURIAL AND WITCHCRAFT 
said to resemble that of a lemon. I could never, 
however, bring myself to try it. 
The Papuans are a jovial, light-hearted people, 
and when a stranger has once won their confidence 
they are hospitable and friendly. Their trust when 
once gained will stand even rather severe tests, as I 
found to my great satisfaction and advantage after 
a stay of some months at Mount Kebea. I was 
anxious to push farther into the interior, but found 
myself absolutely without beads, which are the journey 
money of the explorer. It would have delayed me 
too long to have waited for the return of my mes- 
sengers, who had been sent to the coast for a further 
supply, so I hit upon the expedient of trying how far 
my credit with the natives would go. I called the 
tribe—men, women, and children—together, and in a 
lengthy harangue I explained the situation to them; 
finally asking them if they would lend me their beads, 
which every one of them wore on his or her person 
in considerable profusion, promising them that on my 
return 1 would pay them double the quantity. This 
tribe, be it noted, was not to accompany me farther, 
and the beads would have to be given to other bearers, 
whom I should engage as I proceeded. These orna- 
mentations are to the Papuans as precious as her 
pearls are to a grande dame, but, nevertheless, every 
man, woman, and child immediately consented to the 
loan. This appreciation of the idea of credit—one 
might almost say of banking—denotes a considerable 
receptivity of mind, and shows that the Papuan cannot 
be inaccessible to civilisation. 
I cannot pass from the subject of the Papuan at 
329 
