Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-02
HEATHER CURI0SITIES.
THE VALUABLE COLLECTION IN THE
NEW YORK MUSEUM.
1t Contains Dancing Masks, Wonderfully
Carved War Clubs, Blood Stained Dag
gers Made from Human Bones, Paddles
and Maces-Sharks' Teeth Weapons.

gers uAde from human Bones, Paddles
and Maces-sharks' Teeth Weapons.
The rarest and at the same time the most
valuable collection of South sea curiosities
In existence, priceless in that in contains
specimens which can never be replaced,
may be seen in the American Museum of
Natural History at Seventy-seventh street
and Eighth avenue. IL is known as the
Sturgis collection, and represents not only
an expenditure Of thousands Of dollars in
cash, but nearly twenty-five years of search
In the United States and quest of more
than thirty years previous to that time
among the islands of the South Pacific
ocean.
Contained in sixteen cases, each feet
wide, 10 feet high and 10 feet long, extend
ing along the entire east side of the third
floor of the building are over 6,OO0articles,
the greater part Of them beautiful, others
less so, but all of them quaint and curious
and possessing a particular interest for
civilized people.
Any number of these curiositics repre-
sent an epoch in different South Sea isl
ands long passed. Such specimens it is
impossible in these days to duplicate.
While there is no end to the odd and in
teresting curiosties in the collection, yet a
visitor will find his attention directed par
ticularly to the masks from New Ireland,
New Guinea and Solomon Islands. These
were used in former days in religious
dances and ceremonies, and were so made
that they could be worn over the head
The faces are carved from wood, and hide
ously ornamented with red and white
paint. The upper part consists of frame
work Of pliable wood, covered either with
native sponge or with sinnet made from
cocoanut fiber. The eyes are represented
by small green and white periwinkle shells
WEAPONS OF WAR.
From the Solomon, New Hebrides and
New Ireland islands is Il large collection Of
bows and arrows the former seven or eight
and the latter about five feet long. The
arrows are tipped with bone or hard wood
No iron is found in the islands, and the
wood is hardened by fire to give it the
proper degree Of strength and resistance.
Two particularly interesting but horrible
specimens come from New Guinea in the
form Of daggers made from the bones Of
human legs. The bones are about seven
inches long the sockets being used as
handles, while the other end is sharpened
to point These CHASTITY curiosities were
captured by the crew Of whaling ship
during fight with the natives Of the isl
and, and the stains made by human blood
can readily be discerned.
Specimens Of fine carving are very nu-
merous, being especially noticeable in the
case Of canoe paddles, war clubs and maces
used as badges Of Office on ceremonial
occasions. Many are ornamented with
mother Of pearl or abalone she'll The in
tricate designs, remarkable for their regu-
larity and finish, are the results Of years
Of slow and careful work, much Of the
carving having been begun by a father and
completed by his son after the death of the
former There being no metal tools in the
islands in those days, the carving had all
to be done with pieces Of shell or with
sharks teeth.
Two fine war clubs from the island Of
Santa Cruz, in the Solomon group, are
wonderful specimens Of the caryer's skill
IL was in the vicinity Of this island that
the great French navigator, La Perouse,
was wrecked. In 1855 King Louis XVI Of
France sent him To the South seas on a
voyage Of discovery No tidings having
been received Of the expedition, the king
sent a second expedition to the South seas
in 1921, with instructions to search for the
missing explorer. Bat beyond the fact OBJ
tanned from some natives that several
French ships were wrecked on the island
Of Santa Cruz in 1883, this being verified
by the finding Of relics from the missing
ships, no further tidings were ever heard
Of the great French navigator
ORNAMENTS AND IDOLS
The collection Of jade ornaments and
weapons is especially fine. These come
more particularly from New Guinea and
the early Maori settlements in New Tea
land, while many specimens are products Of
Mangaia, in the Hervey group. Heads Of
jade, used for battle axes and AIDES, are
quite numerous being firmly fastened 10
carved handles by strips Of the finest plat
ed sinnet The finest specimens Of orna
mented plating come from Mangaia, the
sinnet being laid on so firmly and evenly
and in such a variety Of designs that the
work bears the appearance Of having been
done by machinery. The handle Of the
implement is in many instances hollow
the native workman having contriyed to
cut away the wood through the intervals
between the upright pillars. The carving
was all done with sharp stone ora sharks
tooth dashed 10 a handle,
New Zealand, New Ireland and the Mar
quesan group, the Kingsmill and Easter
islands contribute "A number Of wooden
idols varying in length from twelve inches
W AhIft lttbt anu lilllIll It7elnJilIS III NC
sign those in use by the Indians of Alaska
The heads are fashioned with either for
bidding or grotesque features. Dogs teeth
are often set in the mouth, while the eyes
are made OF mother Of pearl, in the center
Of each being set black bead TO represent
the pupil.
Two suits Of armor from Samoa made Of
cocoanut fiber, are among the rarest and
finest specimens in the collection. Each
suit is made Of two pieces and corresponds
in form TO a European coat and pair Of
trousers. The plating is done 50 finely and
closely that it would offer strong resist
ance TO modern bullet at a reasonable
distance. These specimens were brought
to Nantucket by a whaling ship in 1853
Such armor has long been out Of date in
Samoa Not a single suit can lie found in
the Islands today John G. Klein in New
York World.