The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-11
WIVES VERY CHEAP.
zzAUTY BATTERED FOR BEADS
AND CALICO AT THE ANTIPODEs.

Fxperieuces OF a Massachusetts Ma
-urs.ist in New Guinea-Kind Oncas
Of s. Native Chief for His White
visitors
Boston naturalist, Sherman Denton,
,ovof the United States fish commission,
,-ant TO New Guinea a few yeas ago TO
assist hi father in his scientific work The
alder Denton suddenly died there, and the
son returned IN 1886 20 this country. But
having eyes that could see, he kspta faith
f,l account Of what he saw in a land as yet
untroiien but by very few white men. He
has now published some of the incidents
and observations of his travel in a book,
incidents Of a collectors Rambles in Aus
+ralia. ~ which makes most fascinating read
inc The Boston Globe which has seen ad-
vance proofs of the book, gives some of its
contents. His stay among the Papuans oc-
cupies about quarter Of the volume
Mr.. Denton Travelled with his father and
Younger brother. During his stay with the
Paruans he was most of the time alone
with his brother among them. He tells a
most interesting story Of his experiences in
the village of Narinuma in the interior of
New Guinea There dwelt the CoyRra peo-
rle. an idyllic tribe who had never before
seen white men.
Narinuma Is a village of some sixteen
houses besides five tree houses some 60
feet from the ground. The tree houses are
well built. and rattan or bamboo ladders
extend from the ground to just below the
platform Of the house. These houses are
used by the natives TO defend themselves
from their enemies in case of attack.
The village looked clean, and the houses
TASTY and comfortable. One house larger
and stronger than the rest, was the visitors
81 # iah fhe-o Sc in,
every town. Here strangers are sheltered
and fed free of charge. The largest and
the best house in every town isfor the
stranger.
Tame pigs with shouts half as long as
their bodies and covered with long b own
brlstles, roamed at will about the village
A small species of dun-colored dog, which
neither barked nor bit, but only howled,
was the occupant with nearly every owner
of the house. There was only one cat at
Narinuma. which Loheir, the chief, had
obtained in trade from some of the coast
tribes, and the animal was great pet.
THE PAPUAN WOMEN.
Early in the morning the ground about
the house would be swept by the women,
and was as hard and clean as a table The
Papuan woman is finely featured, and
many of the children are truly handsome.
Age, however, is merciless TO the women,
kneading clay, or beating balls into shapely
pots or dishes. their heads shaven with
fragments of bottle glass and every bone
of their emaciated bodies showing through
their wrinkled skins, they are venerable
pictures of ugliness.
The old chief, Lohier, was the most inter-
esting man in the village. He was 80 years
cid, stout and broad-shouIdered, and so well
covered was his body with scars from the
many battles in which he had fought that
by placing his hand upon him in the dark
est night Mr.. Denton became sure of his
identity. Lohier's face was dark, but his
look was intelligent; his manner was that
of bora gentleman, modest and unassum-
ing.
One day after two brothers had been in
Narinuma a good while, and had learned
enough of the language to talk freely,
Loheir came to them, showing by his ac-
lions that he had something important TO
say. He began by asking if they liked the
Coyara men and their country. When
told that the white man had been treated
very kindly, and that the Coyara country
was as fertile and as beautiful as any they
had seen, he seemed pleased. Then the
conversation took this course:
rs it warm and comfortable at America
as at NarinumaW
Not always, sometimes it is very cold.n
"Are white people any happier than
Coyaras"
Perhaps not so happy Their land is
not so productive and they have to work
very hard"
Are white men very numerous"
YES
''Are white women as handsome as white
men'
''SOme of them.n
Do they wear the same kind of clothesg
No; they wear petpcoatSn
do white men have one wife or rnapvin
''Une wife"
Have you a wife in America?"
''No.n
How do you like the Coyara girlsYn
Some of them are very handsome and
pleasing"
Would you like to get married in New
We'll, that depends on circumstances.
Have you seen any Coyara girls as hand
some as the girls in American
Yes, some fully as handsome.o
now much do you pay for a wife in
Some are very expensive and Others
very cheap. Generally the expense comes
after they are married. The parents of
some girls are SO anxious to disnosA Of their
them" A'i
grougd. '"'
your ''' - ALL" p4''-'0
They are very sociable."
herey SOUL
Hardly. You see Loheir we came q
ohg, long distance TO get to Narinuma
oiiu as we are rich and verv good looking.
we ought to have the best the country at
Up started Loheir with whoop and
HnN
was eff. '-0 0NN
The two brothers had laugh at his Curl
Gus questionings and the manner he left
eueLl, out, thinking no more about it. went
on with their work.
ror several days the chief was not to
soon. "J' " 70 Oo0A
- 1HE CHIEF OFFERS TEMPTATION
que afternoon, as the two white men were
pGPaflng their dinner, they heard tittering
~ sigghng. Looking around they saw
e 1[3nelt In tie midst of a group of girls,
II IN. twenty In number A broai smile
- 9t .Hu up the chiefs dusky face and many
~, - vac girls, Of great beauty, were laugh
o. ana peerlng at the white men over each
tb o.el shoulders. They all wore flowers in
tbo o;r nalr and hands of green leaves adorned
| - arms aud ankles. Each maiden had
l.oa n7I pest petticoat, ana some wore neck
NJ NJ u oogs' teeth and feather ribbons.
sr me chlet came forward and addressed the
IA had 10