CONBTJCT TOWARDS STRANGERS* 
7 
sioDs have come to be looked upon By their visitors m 
rather a favourable sign, from their indicating that no 
treachery is contemplated, which is sonietimes the case 
when the natives are unanimous. The wilder tribes 
generally avoid all intercourse with strangersj if the 
party that appears among them is sufficiently great to 
cause alarm; but if it be small or unarmed^ and the 
PapuanSj as is too often the cnsCj, have had cause to 
regard strangers with hostile feelings, they assume a 
friendly appearance until an opportunity occurs, and 
then make a sudden and ferocious attack. 
But the social characteristic which diatinguishes them 
most from the brown races consists in the inextinguish- 
able hatred they bear towards those who attempt to 
settle in their territory, and which is sometimes con- 
tinued as long as a man of the tribe remains at large. 
This apparently untameable nature, when in an inde- 
pendent state, seems to have been the chief cause which 
has led to their utter extermination in all those islands of 
the Indian Archipelago that did not possess mountain 
fastnesses to which they could retire and lead a life 
similar to that of the Boschman of South Africa. This 
ferocity of character disappears, in a great measure, when 
individuals are removed to other countries, for the 
Papuan slaves, who are found in considerable numbers 
among the brown races of the Archipelago, are remark- 
able for a cheerful and obedient disposition, although 
they sometimes display an irritability of temper which 
requires careful management. 
