The Ethnographical Library, conducted by E. N

Front matter

-Etbicgr^liLcal Lib-orr. Vol. I, Pkte 1. _? Tin- Orrt tutnaj pan Mukty/M IHWtoftonS'So-aiHf NATIVE OF DOURCA STRAIT. NEW GUINEA. A tvuttm,. If .^,.,.,-r I'tt4/d$A*r £a* 296> £ read-way TfcvrYi-r/c THE ETHNOGRAPHICAL LIBRARY CONDUCTED BY EDWIN NORRIS ESQ. VOL. I. THE NATIVE RACES OF THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO PAPUANS GEORGE WINDSOR EARL M.R.A.S. AUTHOR OF THE "EASTERN SEAS" &C. " Mirantur homines altitudiues montium, ingentes fluctus maris, altissimos lapsus rluminum et oceani ambitum et gyros siderum— et relinquunt seipsos, nee mirantur." — St. Augustin. LONDON HIPPOLYTE BAILLIERE 219 REGENT STREET, AND 290 BROADWAY NEW YORK U.S. PARIS J. B. BAILLIERE —MADRID C. BAILLY BAILLIERE. 1853. LONDON: Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street.

Preface

. The study of -the Human Race, in its various phases, has become greatly extended since the late Dr. Prichard, the father of Ethnographical Science in this country, commenced his researches into the physical history of mankind. The inaugural essay of the young physician in the year 1808, was expanded into a large volume in 1813, and further researches, prosecuted without inter mission during a long and active professional life, ex tended#the work until it became one of the most valuable contributions to modern scientific literature of which any nation can boast. The importance of the science which the learned physiologist has the merit of intro ducing to this country, is daily becoming more appre ciated. The archæologist finds in it a clue to mysteries connected with extinct nations, such as those which have been buried for ages under the sands of Egypt, Persia, or Central America; the philanthropist feels his sympathies enlarged -as the habits and characteristics of untutored races become developed to his view ; and even the states man considers it necessary to refer to the pages of the ethnographer, that he may learn how collisions with the

PREFACE.

. native races of distant possessions, which but too often lead to desolating and expensive wars, may be best avoided; — and although it is not intended at present to enter very deeply into the subject of philology, students of that important branch of Ethnographical Science may find their labours materially lightened by the issue of a series, to which they can refer for in formation respecting the geographical position, and social peculiarities, of tribes whose dialects may be under examination. august 25, CONTENTS.

Chapter I. General Characteristics

Peculiarity of the Hair — Features — Stature and Proportions — Modes of Personal Disfigurement — Physical and Mental Capacity — Character and Disposition — Results of Foreign Intercourse on the Wild Tribes ....... 1

Chapter II. New Guinea

SOUTH COAST. Papuan Character of the New Guinea Tribes— Geographical Sketch of the Island — Visits of Early Voyagers — Dutch Expedition of 1828 — Interview with Natives of Dourga Strait — Hostile Encounter— Characteristics of the Dourga Tribe — Weapons and Ornaments — Agility in Climbing Trees — Mangrove Thickets — Habitations — Papuans and Australians— Expedition of Lieutenant Kool to Dourga Strait in 1835 — Interview with a large tribe of Frederick-Henry Island . VI CONTENTS.

Chapter III. New Guinea

SOUTH-WEST COAST. Captain Cook's Interview with the Papuans in 1770 — Lieutenant Kolff's Visit to the same spot in 1828 — His Interview with the Natives — Ichthyosis — Singular Practice of Ejecting a Smoke-like Material from Bamboo Tubes — Lieutenant Modera's Account of the Practice — Dr. Muller's Explanation — Local Character of the Practice — Progress of the Dutch Expedition of 1838 along the Coast — Meet a Papuan Flotilla — Practice of Standing while Paddling their Prahus — Interview with the Natives — Friendly Intercourse Established — Trading Propensities of the Papuans — Ceremonial Visit of the Papuan Chief Abrauw — Affection of the Natives towards their Chief — Aristocratic Coolness of the Natives — Friendly Conduct towards the Dutch — Characteristics of the Outanatas — Ichthyosis — Boring the Septum of the Nose, and Pointing the Teeth — Dress and Ornaments — Characteristics of the Females — A Mother and Child — Disposition and Character of the Outanatas — Arms and Implements — Canoes — Habitations — Domestic Animals — Food — Fruits and Vegetables — Doubts as to whether the Outanatas are a Coast or Inland Tribe — Papuan Flotillas — Expedition proceeds towards Triton Bay — A Papuan Paradise — The Settlement Founded — Mohammedan Influences on the Natives — Their General Characteristics — Foreign Intercourse — Marauders of Onin— The Slave-Trade — Commerce — General View of the Natives of the West Coast of New Guinea— The Alsoeren, or Mountaineers— Origin of the term " Arafuras" . 30

Chapter IV. New Guinea

NORTH COAST. Early Voyagers to the North Coast of New Guinea— Dutch Expedition of 1850— Characteristics of the Dory Papuans— Dress— Scarifications CONTENTS. VII of the Body — Ornaments — Occupations — Food and Luxuries — Habitations and Household Gear— Arts and Agriculture— Arms and Implements — Navigation and Commerce — Character and Disposition — Government and Laws — Customs, Social and Religious — The " Hongi," or Tidore Flotilla — Natives of Run, in the Great Bay — Visit to a Papuan Family — Kurudu — A Deserted Village — The Ambermo River — Dutch Settlement at Humboldt Bay . 64

Chapter V. The Arru Islands

General Description of the Group — Foreign Intercourse — Mixed Race of the Western Islands — Dutch Connection with the Islands Renewed in 1824 — Lieutenant Kolff's Description of the Islanders — Peculiar Complexion of the Arruans — The Kabroor Islanders — Agriculture — Trepang and Pearl Fisheries — Native Vessels — Elephants' Tusks and Porcelain Dishes — Social Condition of the Natives of Vorkay — Marriage Customs — Mode of Settling Differences — Funereal Customs and Ceremonies — Introduction of Christianity and Mohammedanism — Importance of farther Details respecting the Arruans . 93

Chapter VI. Ceram And The Moluccas

Mountain Papuans — Mixed Race on the Islands lying between Ceram and New Guinea — Remnants of the Papuan Race in Ceram — Condition in the time of Valentyn— The Waringin or Banyan-Tree of the Far East — Its Connection with the Early History of the Native Races — Hopeless Condition of the Papuans in the Interior of Ceram — Former Power of the Maritime Papuans — Their Expeditions in the Neighbouring Seas — Adventure of a Papuan Rajah at Ternate . . • • ■ ■ .112 CONTENTS.

Chapter VII. Ahetas, Or Negritos Of The Philippines

Distribution of the Ahetas in the Philippines — Accounts of Early Voyagers — Nature of the Country — Physical Characteristics of the Ahetas — Food — Habits — Singular Practice — Nostalgia or Home- Sickness — Individuals Residing with the Foreign Settlers — M. de la Gironiere's Visit to a Mountain Tribe — First Introduction — Personal Appearance — Habits — Worship — Customs on the Death of one of their Tribe — Mode of Courtship — Respect for Old Age — Style of Language — Poisoned Arrows — Agility of the Ahetas . 121

Chapter VIII. Mindoro, Negros, Mindanao, Sulu And Borneo

Mindoro ; Varieties of Race — The Bangans — Friendly Relations with the Brown Tribes — Negros ; Habits of the Woolly-Haired Tribes — Mindanao — Sulu; The Island formeiiy occupied exclusively by Papuans — Descent of the Reigning Family from a Papuan Chief — Present Condition — Borneo ; Supposed Non-Existence of Papuan Tribes in the Interior — Woolly-Haired Tribe in the Mountains of the East Coast — Mr. Dalton's Description of a Wild Race — Dutch Authorities on the Existence of Papuans in Borneo . . 137

Chapter IX. The Semangs Of The Malay Peninsula

Wild Tribes of the Malay Peninsula — Mr. Anderson's Account of the Semangs— Distinction of Tribes — Habits — Food — Skill in the Chase — Elephant and Rhinoceros Hunting — Mode of Bestowing Names on CONTENTS. IX Children — Characteristics of a Semang brought to Pinang — The Pangan Tribes of Tringanu — Domestication of a Semang Family in Province Wellesly — Supposed Woolly-Haired Tribes in Anam or Cochin-China — Traditions of the Chinese and Budhists of Hin doostan ........ 150

Chapter X. The Andamans

British Settlements on the Great Andaman Island — Ferocious Character of the Inhabitants Fatal to the Crews of Shipwrecked Vessels — Wreck of the ' Briton' in 1844 — Mr. Colebrooke's Description of the Natives — Appearance and Character — Mode of Attacking Strangers — Mode of Procuring Food — Songs and Dances — Habitations-^Canoes — Arms — Hunting and Fishing Implements — Charge of Cannibalism — Anecdote of two Young Women— Severe Privations — Progress towards Friendly Intercourse with Strangers — Want of Vegetable Diet — Causes of their Present Degraded State — The Cocoa-nut — Comparison with the Natives of the Nicobars — Planting Fruit Trees the first Great Step out of Barbarism . . 161

CHAPTER XL THE SUNDA CHAIN.

Relics of an Ancient Race in Java— Papuans of Flores — Solor, Pantar, Lomblen and Ombai — Maritime Pursuits of the Coast Tribes of Solor —Varieties of Character among Natives of Timor — Tribes near Coepang — Locality in which Papuans are found— Papuan of Timor at Singapore— Mode of Carrying on Trade with the Natives of the South Coast— Traces of Papuans in other Islands of the Archipelago . . ■ - • • .1/5 X CONTENTS.

Chapter XII. Melville Island And North Australia

Papuan Character of the Aboriginal Tasmanians — No Woolly-Haired Tribes in Australia — Doubtful Character of the Melville Islanders — Captain King's Survey — Interview with the Natives — Traits and Characteristics — Establishment formed on Melville Island — Lieutenant Roe's Account of the Natives — Malayan Youth — Indian Islanders thrown upon the Coast — Major Campbell's Description of the Melville Islanders — Personal Characteristics — Habits and Disposition — Character of Intercourse with the Garrison — Native Dread of Capture — Reasons for Supposing that the Slave-Trade once Existed — Females — Weapons — Utensils — Domestic Habits — Habitations — Food — Dialects — Burial Places — Slave-Trade — Practice of Throwing Spears from the Trees — Tribes of Port I^sington and Carpentaria — Hill Tribes of North Australia — The Islanders of Torres Strait— Concluding Note. . . . .188 EXPLANATION TO THE PLATES.

PLATE PAGE 1 Native of Dourga Strait, New Guinea. The original draw ing was taken on the spot by Mr. Van Oort, one of the artists attached to the Dutch Expedition of 1S28. The natural features of the face are distorted into an expres sion of hatred or defiance, but in other respects the Plate gives an accurate representation of one of the finer specimens of the tribe in his native state. The hair is coloured by the process described at page 5. The spear is pointed with a claw of the Cassowary, or Emu, which is often used for the purpose. The tree in the back ground is an indifferent representation of the mangrove, often alluded to in the text. .... Frontispiece. Map of New Guinea, compiled from the latest infor- 2 mation, by the author of this work .... S Interview with natives of Dourga Strait, New Guinea.

The original was taken on the spot by the Dutch artist, Mr. Van Oort. This interview is described at pages 20 and 28. The natives paddling the boat are Javanese, a number of whom are supplied to the Dutch ships of war in India, for boat service during the heat of the 3 day 20 Outanata, of the south-west coast of New Guinea. From a portrait by Mr. Van Baaltcn, one of the artists attached to the Dutch Expedition. In this Plate the head is slightly more elongated than is represented in 4. EXPLANATION TO THE PLATES. XII PLATE PAGE the original, but in every other respect it must be con sidered as an accurate representation of a full-grown mak Outanata. The instrument in his right hand is a heavy two-handed club, and that held over the head is one of the bamboo tubes from which the natives eject the smoke-like material which astonished Captain Cook and his companions.

The practice is noticed at pages 33 to 40 47 5 Aieta, or Negrito, of the Philippines, from a Plate in M. Mallat's " Philippines," &c. The Mountain Papuans of the Moluccas are much more slightly built than the Ahetas are here represented. See the portrait in Sir S. Raffles' " History of Java/' and in Mr. Crawfurd's " History of the Indian Archipelago." In the year 1832, the author of this work was a fellowvoyager with a Papuan youth from the interior of Gilolo, who was an exact counterpart of the figure given by Raffles and Crawfurd 121 6 Heads of Papuans and North Australians. Eigs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, and 12, are from portraits by Messrs. Van Oort and Van Raalten, the artists to the Dutch Expedition. The others are selected from profiles taken by the author of this work, winch the artist has very accurately transferred to the Plate. — Figs. 1, 2, and 3, are profiles of Outanatas.

The arched nose of Fig. 3 is by no means an exaggerated feature, although the more common form is that shown in Fig. 2. In Figs. 1 and 2, the alæ, as well as the septum of the nose, are bored, a custom which has not been observed in any other tribe of Papuans. — Fig. 4, is a portrait of a native of the interior in the neighbourhood of Triton Bay. If the original represented the general characteristics of the tribe, and was not selected on account of a peculiarity in bis features and appearance, Dr. Muller certainly has grounds for his opinion that the inland natives differ from those of the coast.— Fig. 5, is a profile of a native of Karas, on the EXPLANATION TO THE PLATES. XIII PLATE PAGE west coast of New Guinea, who was about nineteen years of age at the time it was taken. He is now residing at Singapore, and has lost much of the heavy appearance which is shown in the profile. — Fig. 6, Alka nara, a man of the Jalakuru tribe, between forty and fifty years of age, was well known at Port Essington, as he constantly resided near the settlement, and brought in almost daily supplies of fish and crabs, which he was very expert in taking. — Fig. 7, Olomiri, a native of Croker Island, was about forty years of age when his profile was taken. — Fig. 8, Neinmaal, a native of the south coast of the Cobourg Peninsula, about seventeen years of age, was for several years a ■ domestic servant of the Storekeeper's assistant, and was remarkable for his attention to his duties, and for his fluency in the English language.

He was exceedingly intelligent and well-conducted. Neinmaal was subsequently killed by his own tribe : — it is supposed from jealousy of the high estimation in which he was held by the Europeans. — Fig. 9, Manjerijo, commonly called "Bob," was a youth of the Port Essington tribe, also of great intelligence, but somewhat conceited. Captain the Hon. H. Keppel, in his interesting " Voyage of the ' Mæander,' " alludes to him as being remarkable for his skill in the English language, which he spoke without a foreign accent. — Figs. 10, 11, and 12, are women of Triton Bay, hi New Guinea. — Fig. 13, Mynder, a woman of the Port Essing ton tribe, about twenty-five years of age. — Fig. 14, Ernologi, daughter of Olomiri (Fig. 7), a young woman of Croker Island.— Figs. 15 and 16, Almanaja and Mayapein, two young women of the south part of the Cobourg Peninsula.— Figs. 17 and IS, Manjawi and Monia, two children of the Port Essington tribe . 1SS Map of the Indiah Archipelago, showing the spots occu pied by Papuan tribes 1.

EXPLANATION TO THE WOOD ENGRAVINGS WOOD ENGRAVINGS. PAGE 1. Native of the north coast of New Guinea, hunting Wild Hogs. From a sketch in Captain Forrest's "New Guinea." The hunter is here represented as throwing the spear with his left hand, which is not incorrect, for although the right hand is generally used for the purpose when on shore, the narrow and ticklish character of the canoes, which renders it difficult for the hunter to turn round without losing his balance, obliges him to use either hand in drawing the bow, or throwing the spear. Owing to the dense nature of the underwood, the wild hogs are driven from the islets by dogs, and killed in the water while swimming towards the main land 72 2. Papuan habitation at Dory. The vessel in the foreground is intended for a Tidore Kora-Kora . PLtteTD Ethnographic a] Library Jfili'fl'lX UA .Ut'rdrsriisrri . I.iiu/rn I .Vni Yti/i : II. BeuUUre IAAAA PAPUANS.

Chapter I. General Characteristics

PECULIARITY OF THE HAIR FEATURES STATURE AND PROPORTION'S MODES OF PERSONAL DISFIGUREMENT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CAPACITY CHARACTER AND DISPOSITION RESULTS OF FOREIGN INTERCOURSE ON THE WILD TRIBES. Small tribes of the Papuan race, or, as they are some times called, Oriental Negroes, are very widely distributed among the islands of the Indian Archipelago; and New Guinea, the easternmost of the group, is supposed to be exclusively occupied by them. The Papuans have very few characteristics in common with the brown-coloured races of the Indian Islands, but their most striking peculiarity consists in their frizzled or woolly hair, which does not spread over the surface of the head, as is usual with the negroes of Africa, but grows in B HAIK small tufts, each of which keeps separate from the rest ; and the hairs, if allowed to grow, twist round each other, and form spiral ringlets.

Many of the tribes, more especially the mountaineers who hold intercourse with more civilized races, from whom they can procure cutting instruments, keep the hair closely cropped. The tufts then assume the form of little knobs, about the size of large peas, which give the head a singular but not altogether unpleasing appearance; for the regularity of these little knobs is so great, that the first idea which strikes a stranger is that they have been produced by means of a stamp ; and the writer has every reason to believe that the hair of some tribes is naturally short, this knob-like appearance arising without the superfluous hair being cropped. Among the coast tribes of New Guinea, however, the spiral ringlets sometimes grow to the length of a foot, when they are either cut off close to the head, and made into wigs, by inserting the ends into skull-caps formed of matting ; or the ringlets are opened out by the hand, and kept spread by the constant use of a sort of comb of bamboo with four or five long prongs.

The hair then assumes a capacious, bushy appearance, which has caused the people who adopt the latter practice to be called " mop-headed Papuans." Some of the less known tribes plait the ringlets over the crown of the head, where they form a thick ridge. All these practices seem to be adopted for the one purpose of obviating the inconvenience that must result from the ringlets falling over the face while hunting or fishing, without entailing the necessity of parting altogether with a personal adornment in which they take great FEATURES. pride. The hair of the beard and whiskers, with which the Papuans are usually well supplied, also grows in little tufts similar to those of the head ; and the same pecu liarity is found in the hair with which the breasts and shoulders of the men are sometimes covered, but here the tufts are much farther apart than on the head or chin.

This description of woolly or twisted hair is peculiar to the full-blooded Papuans. A comparatively slight mixture with the brown race removes the pecu liarity, at least has done so in all cases that have come under the writer's observation. The hair of people of the mixed race, although thick and curly, covers the surface of the head like that of Europeans. The Malayan term for crisped or woolly hair is "rambut pua-pua." Hence the term "pua-pua," or " papua" (crisped), has come to be applied to the entire race ; and certainly it deserves to be retained, as expressing their most striking peculiarity. The features of the Papuans have a decided negro character : broad noses, thick and prominent lips, receding foreheads and chins, and that turbid colour of what should be the white of the eye, which is apt to give the countenance a sinister expression.

Their natural complexion is almost universally a chocolate colour, sometimes closely approaching to black, but certainly some shades lighter than the deep black which is often met with among the negro tribes of Africa. With regard to stature, a great difference is found to exist between distinct tribes, even in New Guinea, which has led to some confusion in the descriptions given by different travellers, who may each have seen only a single b STATURE AND PROPORTIONS. tribe. On the south-west coast of New Guinea, within the space of a hundred miles, are to be found tribes whose general stature is at least equal to that of the finer races of Europeans, and others whose proportions are so small as almost to entitle them to the appellation of pygmies, while customs and characteristics generally so exactly correspond, as to preclude the supposition that these peculiarities can. be other than accidental.

It is difficult to account for this ; but as the stout and stalwart Papuans are met with only among tribes who have maintained their independence, and who at the same time possess many of the agricultural and mechanical arts, while the pygmies are found only among the tribes that have been driven to the mountain fastnesses, or have fallen under the influence of more powerful races, we may conclude that their mode of life has much to do with this difference in point of stature. The various tribes also differ much in their appear ance. The more diminutive Papuans, who chiefly come under the notice of Europeans as slaves in the Moluccan settlements, are unprepossessing enough while in their native state, but when under good masters, the regu larity and wholesome nature of their diet, coupled with their apparent utter forgetfulness of home and rela tiveSj produce a roundness in their neat clean limbs, and a sprightliness of action, which is rarely met with among their more civilized neighbours of the brown race.

On the other hand, the larger Papuans are more remarkable for strength than symmetry. They have broad shoulders and deep chests, but a deficiency is generally found about the lower extremities, splay feet and curved PERSONAL DISFIGUREMENT. 5 shins being at least as common as among the negroes of Africa. A singular custom of raising the skin in cicatrices, especially on the shoulders, breast, and thighs, prevails very generally among the Papuans. These cicatrices are formed by cutting the skin through with some sharp instrument in longitudinal stripes, and if on the shoulder or breast, white clay, or some other earthy substance, is rubbed into the wound, which causes the flesh below to rise, and the scarifications, when allowed to heal, assume the form of embossed cicatrices, often as large as the finger.

The process by which the flesh is raised is perfectly inexplicable to an European, who would be thrown into fever by any one of the wounds which these strange people bear, two or three at a time, without complaining, but certainly not without suffering. The practice of boring the septum of the nose has also been generally observed among the wilder Papuans. In the first instance they wear a roll of plantain-leaf in the orifice, which, by its elasticity, enlarges the hole so much as to admit the thigh-bone of a large bird or some other ornament, which is worn extending across the face on all great occasions. The coast tribes of New Guinea, and of the islands lying immediately to the east, have a practice of filing or grinding the front teeth to points; and another singular custom is prevalent with some of the coast tribes of Papuans, that of destroying the colour of the hair, which is naturally black, by applications of burnt coral mixed with sea-water, and by preparations of wood-ashes in some instances, which gives • the hair a light red or flaxen tinge.

As the practice of pointing MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CAPACITY. the front teeth is also common among the natives of the Pagi Islands on the west coast of Sumatra, and the custom of discolouring the hair prevails among the natives of Timor-laut, Baba, and Sermattan, who are essentially members of the brown race in their general characteristics, some doubts may reasonably be entertained as to whether these are purely Papuan customs. The Papuans, when placed in circumstances favourable for the development of their powers, are physically superior to the races of South-eastern Asia. Some of the New Guinea tribes would bear a comparison, in point of stature and proportions, with the races of Europe, were it not for the deficiency about the lower extremities which has been already noticed. Even the more diminutive mountain tribes are remarkable for energy and agility — qualities which have led to their being in great demand as slaves among their more civilized neighbours.

With regard to mental capacity, also, they are certainly not inferior to the brown races ; but their impatience of control while in an independent state utterly precludes that organization which would enable them to stand their ground against encroach ment ; and they invariably fall under the influence of the Malayans whenever the two races are brought into contact. This want of organization renders it extremely unsafe for strangers to visit independent tribes, for although the majority may be peacefully inclined, some individuals among them are nearly certain to be turbulent, and inclined for mischief, if not restrained by their com panions. The struggles that take place on these occa- CONDUCT TOWARDS STRANGERS. sions have come to be looked upon by their visitors as rather a favourable sign, from their indicating that no treachery is contemplated, which is sometimes the case when the natives are unanimous.

The wilder tribes generally avoid all intercourse with strangers, if the party that appears among them is sufficiently great to cause alarm ; but if it be small or unarmed, and the Papuans, as is too often the case, have had cause to regard strangers with hostile feelings, they assume a friendly appearance until an opportunity occurs, and then make a sudden and ferocious attack. But the social characteristic which distinguishes them most from the brown races consists in the inextinguish able hatred they bear towards those who attempt to settle in their territory, and which is sometimes con tinued as long as a man of the tribe remains at large. This apparently untameable nature, when in an inde pendent state, seems to have been the chief cause which has led to their utter extermination in all those islands of the Indian Archipelago that did not possess mountain fastnesses to which they could retire and lead a life similar to that of the Boschman of South Africa.

This ferocity of character disappears, in a great measure, when individuals are removed to other countries, for the Papuan slaves, who are found in considerable numbers among the brown races of the Archipelago, are remark able for a cheerful and obedient disposition, although they sometimes display an irritability of temper which requires careful management. NEW GUINEA.

Chapter II. New Guinea

SOUTH COAST. PAPUAN CHARACTER OF THE NEW GUINEA TRIBES GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE ISLAND VISITS OF EARLY VOYAGERS DUTCH EX- PEDITION OF 1828 INTERVIEW WITH NATIVES OF DOURGA STRAIT HOSTILE ENCOUNTER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DOURGA TRIBE WEAPONS AND ORNAMENTS — AGILITY IN CLIMBING TREES MAN- GROVE THICKETS HABITATIONS PAPUANS AND AUSTRALIANS EXPEDITION OF LIEUTENANT KOOL TO DOURGA STRAIT IN 1835 INTERVIEW WITH A LARGE TRIBE OF FREDERICK-HENRY ISLAND. New Guinea, the great seat of the Papuan race, is 1,400 miles in extreme length, or nearly double that of Borneo ; but its superficial area is probably less than that of the latter island (200,000 square geographical miles), as there is every reason to believe that the south coast of New Guinea, immediately opposite to the Gulf of Carpentaria in Australia, forms a deep indentation similar to the Great Bay on the north coast, there being a space of two degrees and a half of longitude in which the land has not yet been seen.* * Of this unexplored space, 118 miles, or four-fifths of the whole, were taken possession of by proclamation, in the name of the liuujurapliNM' l.ibi-air Plate 11 Ifiubm ■> ■■*'"■>,,-/, . /, ;,\„;<,fre /,»;,.; The names by which the island is known to Europeans and Asiatics, New Guinea and Tanna Papua, both dis tinctly refer to the leading peculiarity of the race by which the coasts are inhabited.

The interior is still a terra incognita, but as a large proportion of the slaves who are exported to the Moluccas have been obtained by stealth or barter from the villages of the interior, and these are invariably pure Papuans in general characteristics, there is at present no reasonable prospect of any other race being found there. This point, however, so deeply interesting to the student of ethnography, must remain an open question until some traveller has pene trated the interior, an enterprise which, in the ordinary course of events, must be attempted before many years elapse. The western peninsula of New Guinea consists of masses of elevated land, penetrated by deep salt-water inlets, and affording evidence of having been intensely disturbed by recent volcanic action. The most striking geographical feature of the great eastern peninsula con sists in a back-bone of lofty mountains, which apparently extends throughout its length.

Three remarkable table topped mountains near the centre of the island, in the King of Holland, in the year 1828. As the commanders of Her Majesty's ships employed in the surveying service are said to have general instructions not to interfere with coasts claimed by foreign powers, unless the interests of navigation absolutely require it, this in some degree accounts for the fact that so large a space of coast, within 600 miles of an European settlement that has been established more than three centuries, remains still unknown to civilized nations. B meridian of 138° E., were estimated by the officers of the Dutch corvette ' Triton' in 1828 to be upwards of 20,000 feet in elevation, and appeared to be covered with snow. And as the range has also been seen from the north coast of the island, at a point more than 200 miles distant from that of the ' Triton's' observations, their height cannot have been much over-estimated.