NEW GUINEA. 
scrambled for the beads, aod ran from every quarter to 
obtain a share. All were on their knees on the sand, and 
showed bow much they prized these presents by the sseal 
and attention with which they aonght for them, and by 
their merry langhter when they were fortunate. Although 
these beads were of great value in their estimation, the 
scrambling was carried on withont the personal contests 
which in civilized Europe would have been the result 
of an unequal distribution of presents. Walking along 
the beacb after this distribntionj I entered into con- 
versation with a native who had learned a little Malay, 
and who invited me into his house, where I was led into 
the room which serves as a dwelling-place for the family. 
I thongbt that all the women would take to flight, and 
was not a little surprised to find that they sat clown close 
to me, and observed me very attentively, but without 
troublesome intrusion. Thus I sat in the midst of sis 
women, three of whom were yonngj and who, on account 
of their beautiful eyes, clear, white, and regular teeth, 
happy, laughing faces, round shoulders and arms, fine 
bands, beautiful bosoms, and well-formed limbs, deserved 
the name of beautiful, not only in the eyes of Papuans, 
but also in those of Europeans* The frankness with 
which I was received struck me, as it was entirely 
unexpected. They brought me a dish of papeda (sago- 
flour steeped in water), some roasted fish, yams, and 
fruit, requesting me to partake of it, which I did to 
please them. Seeing a ring on my fitiger, one of the 
girls tried to draw it off to examine it ; but not succeeding, 
I drew it off myself, and banded it to her. After ex- 
amination, it was returned to me with care. I mention 
