4U0 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
lips are full, but pever like those of the negro, the face 
somewhat oval, : the brows very prominent. The most 
characteristic feature is the nose, which is large, some¬ 
what curved, and high, but depressed at the tip. It is 
thick at the base and the nostrils are broad, and, owing 
to the aim nasi being attached at a higher level on the 
cheek than in Europeans, a large portion of the septum 
is left exposed. This is generally transfixed by a nose-bar 
of bone or shell, which fact is alone sufficient to show 
to what extent this condition obtains. The hair, dry, 
frizzly, and rough to the touch, acquires a consider¬ 
able length, forming a very large, crisp, and mop-like 
mass, which in its fullest development much resembles a 
guardsman’s bearskin in size, and is the pride and glory 
of the wearer. The hair is curiously stiff and resilient, 
so much so that if the hand be laid on one of these 
compact and elaborately tended coiffures, it meets with 
almost as much resistance as it would if pressed against 
a short-clipped European beard. The face is without 
much beard, but the chest, legs, and forearms are usually 
more or less hirsute, the hair being short and crisp. 
Nor does the Papuan appear to differ less from the 
Malay in his mental qualities than in his figure and 
features. Impulsive and demonstrative in speech and 
action, he gives expression to his emotions and passions 
in cries and laughter, in ejaculations, and boisterous leaps 
and gestures. Women and children take part in all 
their dealings, and seem little disconcerted by the 
presence of strangers or Europeans. In estimating the 
intellectual powers of the Papuan, Mr. Wallace places 
him above the Malay, attributing his actual inferiority to 
the absence of the deeper influences of more highly- 
cultured races with whcm the Malay has been repeatedly 
brought into contact. “ It appears,” he says, “ that 
