10 
NEW Bm^EA* 
meridian of 138° E., were estimated by the officers of 
the Dutch corvette * Triton' in 1828 to be upwards of 
20,000 feet in elevation, and appeared to be covered with 
snow. And as the range has also been seen from the 
north coast of the island, at a point more than 200 
miles distant from that of the 'Triton's' observations, 
tbeir height cannot have been much over-estimated. All 
parts of the island hitherto visited are overspread by a 
gigantic vegetation, affording food and shelter to animals 
of singular development, of which the Babi-nisa, or many- 
tusked bog^ the Tree-Kangaroo, the Bird-of-Paradise, and 
the gigantic Crowned-Pigeon, are only a few of the many 
varieties. Some marked peculiarities in the development 
of the human inhabitants may reasonably be expected 
under these circumstances^ and certainly* very succeeding 
voyager brings to light new and striking particulars 
concerning this singular race, which materially enhance 
the interest that civilized nations naturally take in the 
habits and characteristics of their savage brethren. 
The coast tribes of the western peninsula of New 
Guinea have held eommercial intercourse with Moham- 
medan inhabitants of the Moluccas for several centnries 
pasti indeed, the Sultan of Tidore claims a sort of 
suzerainty over the trading ports of the coast, a claim 
which seems to be recognized by the Papuans, many of 
whom have become Mohammedans. And as several 
Malayan customs may have been introduced at the same 
time, the inhabitants of the western peninsula cannot 
be brought forward as exhibiting the Papuan race in its 
aboriginal condition. Indeed, the entire north coast of 
New Guinea seems to have been subjected to similar 
