PAPUAN CULTUPE ON CAPE YOBK PENINSULA.— EAMLYN-EAEPIS. 13 
one 01 these” is fringed ivith human hair and is 'worn suspended hy stout cord 
around the neck^ so we are told/" This breast ornament is made in various sizes, 
and siiecimens in our collection (five in all) range from about 275 mm. down to 
160 mm. in length.""^ 
In 1893, Mr. Kendall Broadbent, who wns then collecting for the Queens- 
land Museum, obtained two curious breast ornaments bearing the native name 
of '‘Gubullaga,’^ two specimens of which are shown in Figures 1 and 2. They are 
very much damaged, but the Bvo together give a fair idea of what the specimen 
was like when intact. It consists of a crude human head worked in very soft 
wood, on a stem Avith a fairly regular engraved pattern on upper surface only. 
The face was provided with pearl-shell eyes, three of AAdiich have noAV fallen out. 
(Q. M. Specimens No. QE 14/580 and 581.) 
It might not be out of place here at this particular stage to refer to the 
musical instruments Avhieh occur fairly plentifully in the Northern Territory, 
and are evidently of Malaysian inhiience. A s])ecimen in the Queensland 
Museum, having been described as a ^‘bird-call,’’ measures 992 mm., is open 
at each end ; one end is decorticated and gummed, the rest decorticated in lengths 
and the intervals arc ornamented Avith rude incised patterns evidently made 
with a sharp instrument. This comes from Port DarAvin, Northern Territory, 
]\Ir. E. Spalding being the donor (Q. M. Specimen No. E 14/461). I believe I 
am right in saying that it is hardly likely that such an imi)lement Avould be used 
as a bird-call, in vieAV of the fact tliat most of the natives are able to mimic 
bird-sounds remarkably Avell Avithout any mechanical assistaiice. These instru- 
ments are only used in rehearsals for corroborees, small groups of men (ten to 
tAA^ehm) taking part in these. The boomerang is clapped together, Avhilst a 
musical instrument of this kind is kept going all the time, the sound being like 
the booming noise of the male emu, and can be heard some miles distant on a 
still night."^ 
other specimens Avere doubtless also proA'ided Avith it originally — the hair in the 
others seems to have completely worn off. 
it possible by any chance that this curious “ ornament might ha\’e had some 
phallic significance, or been Avorn as a pubic co\w? Onr knoAAdedge of these things is so 
incomplete that wc are left in the dark as to its real import. 
Q.M. Specimens No. QE 14/575-579. 
On the authority of Mr. M. J. Colcldugh. 
