JN TlMOn-LAUT, 



child, it would seem, is invariably laid in exactly the same posi- 

 tion in the cradle, either on its back or on one side according 

 to the place of its suspension in the house, with the result that 

 the hinder pt\rt of its head tjecoraes quite flattened. In some 

 living infants the deformity was very prominent, and that it 

 remains |)ermanent is evidenced by one of 

 the crania of a fuH-grown man which I 

 bronght home ; bnt no sort of binding is 

 applied to the head in any stage of their 

 yonth, as among many tribes, to induce an 

 abnormal and admired shape of head. 



The artistic altility of the Timor-lant 

 people is unqnestionably very high. They 

 are very deft-flngrered and clever carvers 

 of wqwi and ivory. The " tlgure-heads " 

 of their outrigger praus, dug out of single 

 trees, especially attract attention by the 

 excellence of the workmanship, carefully 

 and patiently executed, and the elegance 

 of their furnishings; while the whole 

 length of the central pillars of their 

 houses are also most elaborately carved 

 with intricate patterns and representa- 

 tions of crocodiles and other animals. 

 Their approeiation of beauty is a charac- 

 teristic of them, which, absolutely wanting 

 in the Slalay people, I was surprised to 

 IShd among a less advanced race. While 

 walking through the forest they invariably 

 pluck and titstefully arrange in a hole in 

 their comb which is there for the very 

 purpose, any particularly bright bunch of 

 flowers they see. 



Their houses, though little more than 

 ttwr and roof, are very neat structures, elevated four or 

 five feet above the ground, and entered by a stair through 

 a trap-door cut in the floor, which is shut down and slotted 

 at night. In front of the door is a seat of WmmxT^dodohati 

 — with ornamented supports and a high carved back, on the 

 top of which is placed an mm^p.^Duadihh — with, at its 



ORSAjreSTKll CHALK- 

 HOLtt&Ft. 



