DOURGJl STRAIT. 
19 
the lower part of the stomacli, round wbicli they wore a 
girdle or band five or six inches hroad ; some of these 
girdles were provided with a large shell so placed as to 
cover the centre of the stomach. This girdle is made of 
plaited rushes,* which fastens behind, and the ends hang 
down about a foot below the girdle. Every male wore 
this article of costume | but as regards ornaments, each 
one differed from his neighbour. Suffice to say that 
some wore arm bands or bracelets of plaited rattan, 
"which were so tightly fixed round the muscle of the arm 
above the elbow, tbat to take them off it was necessar}- to 
smear the arm with mud^ and to have the assistance of 
another person, to pull them off. Others had necklaces 
made of cord very neatly twisted; while others wore 
fringes over the breast made of the same material, the 
ends of which were pronded with small oval pieces of 
wood. Many had ear-rings of plaited i-attan, which some 
wore in the right and others in the left ^r. 
" From the above description we may picture to oar- 
selves this race of people, with an offensive manner, their 
skins he-spattered with mud and of very ill savour, their 
bodies often covered with aores or sheets of scales ; and it 
is not surprising that the general impression was that 
they were an ugly and repulsive people, especially when 
we also take into account their alternate shrill laugh and 
* These girdles, as well as the sort of act which covers the 
oociputf are probably made from the leaf of the Fan dan us^ the 
Cftbbage-trec of the Aastraliaa colonists, oa exceedingly durable 
material in general use among the Papuans for nmkiixg' mats and 
baskets. Tlie latter are somethnes so closely woven as to hold 
Uqtuds.— O. W. E. 
* 
