The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-08
Lovely Maids of New Guinea to Be
.~ Purchased for an AK
Apiece.
Where a Grass Petticoat is Sufhci-
emit Covering for a Young
Lady.
Adventures of an American Scientist
Among the Papuans-A Beauty for
a Piece of Calico.

Talking in an interview in the Washing.
ton Star. the other day, Sherman f.
Denton of the United States fish commits.
sion said: "Such opportunities for matri.
mony as were offered me in New Guinea q
few years ago l never expect to enjoy again.
My journey through the island of the Papu.
ans WAS made for the purpose Of collecting
specimens of all sorts. such as naturalists
seek to gather, but the people themselves
are the most intel esting savaRes I have
ever met. The men and children go about
entirely naked, while the women wear only
short grass petticoats. employed a young
black fellow named Raboor to help me in
my work. His hair was a bush of kinky
fuzz and stood up on his head in a MAS a.
big as d half 5ushel measure. I found out
that he was in love, but no admitted with a
sigh that he was too poor to marry the girl
of his choice.
"'You are young and strong said I why
do you not 60 to work and earn enough to
support yourself and your s~weetheart?'
lyon donot understand he replied. II
have a good garden that would supply
what food we wanted; besides, 1 oan throw
the spear further and truer to tho mark
SA"A ~ opAV AA0A la VAA6 OlbbIlCbS NJ vudk
! can get pltuty of kangaroos and pigs.
But they will not buy the girl. Her mother
wants an ak for her, and that I cannot
grow in my garden nor hunt in the forest
with my SPEAR
The poor fellow groaned, made several
despniring remarks on his prospective
mother-in-law, and finally said that if he
did not love the young woman so dearly he
would go away and never come back again.
but. my boy, you need not despair
sad l. IF the possession of m AZ will &C.
cure your happiness ! will give you one. 1
want my paradise bird, for in my country
people think more of them than of axes, If
you will help me to get as many birds with
the long plumes az you have fingers on both
hands you shall huve an ak on the day We
get the last one.
HE accepted the proposition deliphtedlv.
At length, with his assistance, the ten good
birds were procured and the AZ satned. l
was preaent when Roboor bought mis- wife
with it. They were married the following
evening. the ceremony being conoiudea
with \ wild dance and singing by a chorus
of t GIL. T.. u.,. a..,,, :. ,,u..
afternoon = litter aud Giggle were waited
to our ears. Looking around w beheld
Lohier in the midst of q groap Of fifteen or
beauty, who were laughing and peering Mt
US over each others 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 petit
coat, and some wore necklaces Of dogs
teeth.
Al length Iohisr, ono of my recent
guides. stepping forward, said that he had
besn 4 long way, had visited the biggest
towns Of his country, ana had brought
back With him tho most beautiful women
of his nation. He hoped wa would each
select ono that would please as. marry her,
and settle down in Now Guinea, The par
snts OF some of tho girls had coms also,