Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-05-27
FOR TWO AXES,
YOU CAN GET A WIFE In NEW
GUINEA.


says writer in the Boston Globe.
Mr.. Denton travelled with his
father and younger brother. During
his stay with the Paupuans he was
most of the time alone with his
brother among them. He tells most
interesting story of his experiences in
the village of Narinuma, in the in
terror of New Guinea. There dwelt
the Coyara people, a tribe who had
never before seen white men.
Narinuma is village of some six
teen houses besides five tree houses
some sixty feet from the ground. The
tree houses are well built, and rattan
and 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. In the
houses are stored vans and taros,
wood and water, with ton or two
of stones TO throw down at their
enemies, with spears in bundles for
the same purpose. A platform of
sticks below the house is used to stand
upon while throwing stones and spears
With the primitive methods of cutting
down trees prevailing among the
natives, these houses are almost i'm
pregnable.
Tame pigs, with snouts half as long
as their bodies, and covered with long
brown bristles, roamed at will about
the village.
Early in the morning the ground
about the houses would be swept by
the women, and was as hard and clean
as a table. The Paupuan women are
finely featured, and many of the chill
dren are truly handsome. Age, how
ever, is merciless to the women, and
when the old crones sit in the sun
kneading clay, or beating it into pots
or dishes, their heads shaven and every
bone of their emaciated bodies show
ing through their wrinkled skins, they
are venerable pictures of ugliness.
The old chief, Loheir, was the most
interesting man in the village. He was
fifty years old, stout and broad shoul-
dered, 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 darkest night
Mr.. Denton became sure of his iden-
tity. Loheir's face was dark, but his
look was intelligent, his manner was
that of born gentleman, modest and
unassuming.
One afternoon as the two white men
were preparing their dinner they
heard tittering and giggling. Look
ing around they saw Loheir in the
midst of group of girls, some
twenty in number. A broad smile
lighted up the chiefs dusky face, and
many of the girls, of great beauty,
were laughing and peering at the
white men over their shoulders.
They all wore flowers in their hair,
and bands of green leaves adorned
their arms and ankles. Each maiden
had on her best striped petticoat, and
some wore necklaces of dogs teeth
and feather ribbons.
The chief came forward and ad-
dressed the strangers; he had been q
long way, had visited the largest towns
in the country, and had brought back
with him the most beautiful women
belonging to the tribe. He hoped each
of the brothers would select one that
pleased him, marry her, and settle
down among the Coyaras. The white
men were rich, they could easily buv
q nice garden-all the men in Mari
numa would help them build house
where the white men and their children
could live and be happy. The parents
of some of the girls had come, too, and
were in the background.
Loheir explained that prices were
high and these were the finest women
in the land.
He then arranged them all in line,
line of giggling girls, that they
might be seen to advantage. Begin
ming with the first, he told their
names and accomplishments.
"This one can sing, dance, work in
the garden, cook kangaroo, is good
tempered and tidy; very nice girl,
not so good looking as some, but will
make an excellent wife. The price
for her is knife and looking-g glass.
"This one is handsome, her father i.
rich and she has not had to work hard.
Is very shapely, has nice hair and eyes.
Has no mother, brother or sister to make
trouble between husband and wife,
Her father, that good-looking old gen.
tleman yonder, is chief of this village
and has abundance of land. He asks
two axes for his daughter, but if the
white man will live in his town, Rapi,
tora, he will give his daughter free and
part of his large house and a good
garden besides.
"Here is a fine young maiden, just
the wife for the younger of the white
men. She is very affectionate, kind to
her aged mother and keeps her home
very tidy. She can make brooms,
knows how to cook a pig without
burning it, and is economical. Hel
garden has no weeds, and she raised
the best bananas in Sana Sanagi. She
wishes TO be married and her mother
will let her go for a piece of calico
large enough to make a petticoat.
"Here is Lucena. Is she not lovely
Arms as round as bamboo, form a;
supple as the climbing vines skin, al
smooth as young banana leaf, hail
as soft as SPIDERS web and eyes az
bright as the mornings dew. She cal
sing like bird and run like a kanga.
roo. She is a good housekeeper, al
affectionate daughter, and comes from
good family. Her father was {
great warrior and died fighting hi
enemies. She can be had for an axe, 6
knife, piece of calico and string OF
beads"
There was, however, no match
The white men had other plans. Blu
I the matter ended merrily enough. Tht
brothers invited Loheir to dinner, anC
while the three ate their dinner th'
girls danced and sang song, compos
ing it as they went along, describing
the wooing and complimenting thu
strangers for their generosity in dis
| fr;hutinO Gifts among the disaDnOinte(