76 
NFW GUINEA. 
wood, restiog on sbort feet, which are usually hand- 
sooieiy carved. 
ArU and AgricuUure. — The natives understand the art 
of working iron, the forge consisting of a hcllowa com- 
posed of two large bamboos about four feet longj from 
which the air is expelled by means of two piitonS; with 
bunches of feathers at the end, which are worked like 
those of hand-pumps; and by raising each alternately, 
a eoustant current of air ia expelled through the orifices 
at the bottom, from which small tubes lead to the fire- 
place. This instrument is identical with the bellows in 
use among the brown races of the Ai'chipelago, from whom 
it may have been borrowed. A stone Bei-\^es for an anvil ; 
but the natives often have in their possession a pig of 
iron ballastj or a piece of a broken anchor, which answers 
the purpose much better. They also manufacture rings, 
bracelets, and ear ornaments of metal, chiefly copper and 
silver ; and a portion of the Spanish dollars obtained from 
the French surveying ships, * Astrolabe^ and * Zelee- in 
exchange for commodities, have been used for this 
purpose. They are skilful weavers of mats, but arc un- 
acquainted with the use of the loom. Their plantations, 
or rather gardens, for a very small space is sufficient for 
the few articles they cultivate, are foimed by cutting 
down and bm'ning off the jimgle, and enclosing the cleared 
space with a strong fence of bamboo to keep out the 
wild pigs, which are very numerous. The ground is 
prepared for planting with the aid of sharp stakes, and 
after the seeds are put in, the garden is \dsitcd at intervals 
for the purpose of removing the weeds which would 
othcrsvise impede the growth of the plants. The people 
