fine mop-like heads of frizzly hair appear to be more
common than elsewhere, and are considered a great ornament,
a long six-pronged bamboo fork being kept stuck in
them to serve the purpose of a comb; and this is assiduously
used at idle moments to keep the densely growing
PAPUAN, NEW GUINEA.
mass from becoming matted and tangled. The majority
have short woolly hair, which does not seem capable of
an equally luxuriant development. A growth of hair somewhat
similar to this, and almost as abundant, is found
among the half-breeds between the Indian and Negro in
South America. Can this be an indication that the
Papuans are a mixed race?
For the first three days after our arrival I was fully
occupied from morning to night building a house, with the
assistance of a dozen Papuans and my own men. I t was
immense trouble to get our labourers to work, as scarcely
one of them could speak a word of Malay; and it was only
by the most energetic gesticulations, and going through a
regular pantomime of what was wanted, that we could get
them to do anything. If we made them understand that a
few more poles were required, which two could have easily
cut, six or eight would insist upon going together, although
we needed their assistance in other things. One morning
ten of them came to work, bringing only one chopper between
them, although they knew I had none ready for use.
chose a place about two hundred yards from the beach,
on an elevated ground, by the side of the chief path from
the village of Dorey to the provision-grounds and the forest.
Within twenty yards was a little stream, which furnished
us with excellent water and a nice place to bathe. There
was only low underwood to clear away, while some fine
forest trees stood at a short distance, and we cut down the
wood for about twenty yards round to give us light and
air. The house, about twenty feet by fifteen, was built
entirely of wood, with a bamboo floor, a single door of
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