POOD AND 
97 
lire in villages containing ten or twelve houses eacb, 
under the control of their elders. Their food conaiata 
ehielly of fish and hogs, which they shoot with iron- 
pointed arrows. They also grow excellent vegetables, 
Indian corn, labu {a sort of pumpkin, rcsembhng the 
turnip in flavour), sugax-eane, together with a Uttle red 
and white rice. Their clothing is not more costly than 
their food. The men wear a strip of white, blue, or 
coloured calico round the waist, one end being brought 
between the legs, and fastened on one side with a knot, 
and adorn themselves with armlets made from white 
shells, ^vith small pieces of brass wire in four or five holes 
pierced above one another in tbe ears, and with beads 
around the neck. Their hair is usually black and 
strongly curled. As I have 'remarked elsewhere, they 
wash it with ash or lime-water, which imparts to it a 
lightish colour and causes it to appear rough, both these 
pcculiaritiea being considered very tasteful by the Alfoers 
as well as by the Papuans. Some of them, who have very 
long hair twist it up into a knot at the back of the head, 
couiining it by means of a bamboo comb. Nearly all 
their head-dresses are adorned by some stringa of glass 
beads extending from both ears, and meeting over the 
forehead. They -always carry a chopping-knife thrust 
through the waistcloth. 
" The women wear a chain girdle, made of thick braaa 
wire, round the waist, the ends fastened by a hook, from 
which a small piece of cloth, generally of Macassar 
sarong stuff, hangs down in front, a square piece of fine 
matting depending in like manner from behind, these 
forming their sole covering. The numerous strings of 
If 
