NEW GUINEA AND THE PAPUANS 
431 
stone, shell, or obsidian. They differ from most Papuans 
in having no bows and arrows, clubs, or shields; and 
their architecture is also peculiar, the houses—in size 
about 20 by 10 feet—being built on the ground, of an 
elongated beehive shape, with low walls sometimes made 
of billets of wood. These and other characteristics prob¬ 
ably indicate a mixed origin at a remote period, due to 
the influx of immigrants from islands to the north and 
east. The language has some peculiarities which ally 
the people with the Caroline Islanders rather than with 
those of Hew Guinea. 
Under the name of the Hew Britain group are com¬ 
prehended the remaining islands of the Bismarck Archi¬ 
pelago, which form an enormous horse-shoe with the 
'concavity turned to the west. At the extremity of the 
northern arm lies Hew Hanover, and at that of the 
southern is Dampier Strait. Hew Britain and Hew 
Ireland are by far the largest of the group, around which 
are scattered a number of smaller islands and reefs. 
Although their existence has been known to Europeans 
since the time of Schouten and Le Maire, these lands 
were little visited up to the establishment of the German 
protectorate, and for a long time were believed to form 
part of the mainland of Hew Guinea., It was not until 
Dampier sailed, in 1700, through the strait that now 
bears his name that this supposition was proved to be 
incorrect. He described them as “ mountainous and 
woody, with rich valleys and pleasant fresh-water 
brooks,” while the small volcanic islands in the strait 
“ vomited fire and smoke very amazingly,” as they do at 
the present day. The whole group, indeed, forms an 
area of great volcanic activity, of which the Gazelle 
Peninsula of Hew Britain may be said to be the 
centre. 
