New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-02
SOUTH SEA FOLK.
PIRATES AND VILLAGERS OF NEW. GUINEA
A VILLAGE WHERE THERE ARE TWO MEN
CHIEFS BUT THE WOMEN RULE THE ROAST.

! saIboi as we'll rs Danan and Boign, are in state
Of terror the Tugere pirates, who are reported
10 making their semoccasonal visit INTO That ter
| ritory But little is known OF these people. and
| although investigated by the well known explorer
Douglass scarcely any definite Information Is obtain
able at this late day. From meagre reports
which have been received from time to time this much
Is certain that they both warlike and numerous.
They come around the coast from the West In large
canoes without Outrggers before the northwest wind,
and return with the advent OF the southeast. They
are far better warriors than the native tribes In the
Queensland possessions and their arrival has created
| general CONSERVATION Dozens Of coast communi-
| ties are reported to hive broken UP and wandered
away in small parties into the forest to walt for the
arrival OF the southeast wind, which generally marks
tho departure OF the Tugeres. These pirates rarely
| camn on the same ground second time, last season
| camping near Kadawa. where European traveller
named Martin was killed by a rgere. IL appears
| that Martin who was q trader, was caught near their
| camp while in search OF oddities. Their present
| camp has been located near the mouth OF The kawa
Kussa River and the length OF their sot0urn VIII
depend principally upon their success In pllagng
| villages It has been impossible to determine the
| exact number Of fighting men OF the Iugers'
| but according to Captain strachan, who was
attacked nv them years ago, there are not less
! than 100 Captain Strachan was attacked on tho
| Moil,Issa River He and his fired on them with
Winchester rifles at distance ranging from 80
TO 200 yards. his report the captain states that
Il was an utter impossbllity to intmdate them and
he was compelled to abandon his vessel Tribes In
this part OF the possession are seriously opposed 70
settling down until they relieved OF the terror
caused by these invasions 1t has been about deiln
,tely decided that these pirates come from Dutch
New Guinea, and 1t IS more than probable that they
will remain along the Miikussa or the WaSikuSsa
rivers until late in July. since many OF these river
tribes appear to be broken up by the Tusercs foreign
Interference may be asked in order TO prevent the
| desert.
In view OF their depredatiOns, brief review or the
Tgeres will prove OF interest. As n body OF men
they are fine any tribe to be met with IN any
OF the possessions In one band on the Upper Fly
River there are muscular and equally capable
in appearance but those OF the Tugere are far the
host OF the tribe Many are Of light brown color They
are armed exclusively with bows and arrows Ihey
propel their canoes, which are exceedingly
clumsy In build being from 35 to 40 feet long ana
without outrggers, and propelled by means OF poles
made from the widest Of the sage palm-leaI. fauueS
are rarely used and almost unnecessary IN appear
,nca the Tngeres are anything but prepossesSins
They wear the tiara which Is frizhled plated mo
4 great number OF small cords, with KIND OF ledse,
each cord falling down the neck. and at the lower
extremity the ledge IS wound around 10 form at ue
end OF each plat little ball This gives man an
annearance as though he carried on the sides ana
hack OF the neck a bunch OF grapes so large and
heavy as 10 make It almost difficult TO turn the head
The forehead Is high and well formed, the eyes being
a hazel color. In the ears are large rings OF me
wire feathers from the wings OF the cassowary'
Their noses are profusey ornamented A hole Is
made in each from above downward into the nos
tril. and into this bone are put bamboo, oone'
etc the lower end coming out at the nostr, so that
The bamboo is thus fixed in perpendicular posluoh
one man wore in this way two leg bones OF pig
each one fully threeourths Of an inch In diameter
and about seven inches long. Some wore oahlooos
Of similar proportions, others bamboos an inch Ia
sida
some again had cassowary claws stuck into these
holes with the points directed toward the eyes IN
many cases between the holes for the reception u
this nasal jewery there on each side OF the rage
~ the nose perpendicular Sits about half inch long,
Many wear braids, while around the neck are some
times suspended a half dozen pistails bits OF human
flesh probably OF those killed by the wearers, dned
and tanned. or perhaps several strings oil uos vi
wallaby's teeth. on the breast are crossoei's Vi
fibre or Jobs tears and around the waist are gener-
allv two giriles, fastened with shell thd ac's
As a button. on the arms and legs are rings OF
nlai,ed cane or mat work. But the most notable OF
all is the fact that none OF the Tugeres are tattooeo
An interesting village In the vicinity Of Mpians
Is Ratna which has two annexes OF about thirty
houses and boasts II many people as Alrsna.
Baira boasts Of two chiefs one, Abir, attends 10
the civil functions; while. the second, one Hoia' Is
the war chief. The most marvellous thing, however
in connection with the reign of these two chiefs Is
The fact that neither OF them have anything 10 say
in the presence OF the Of Baipa, who run
things to suit their fancies. There are few comma
mites where women take much upon themselves
a here their power being equally as great as that
Of Maino I'm Aiplana. The climate in this section
k most delightful and deaths less in proportion,
than In any other portion OF the Guineas. Tho
domestic arrangements and habits OF the people are
Of su greater interest than their ntertrfba rela-
lions Each family has It's recognized head, and each
It's own dwelling. The young men who are not
married are supposed to occupy common quarters,
under the general control OF some man advanced In
years With this exception the people live in fam
flies During the night there is much noise In the
village after all have retired TO rest husbands ana
wives squabble, wives beat the children, and pande
monium reigns supreme In the morning the women
sweep out the house and clean the ground about II
from the traces Of pigs and other animals Then they
cook breakfast. boiling in narrow mouthed clay pots
the taro or bananas for the morning meal. When
cooked this IS removed into wide-mouhed shallow
clay dish, and cocoanutS grated on the top Mean
while the man or OF the family have gone To
the "strangers," clubhouse, where they sit on
the veranda talking and smoking. The dish Is
brought to them and each takes from the little net
bag which Is carried on his arm small shell spoon
with which he eats his food Mtervard the vile
returns for the empty dish. The wife and children
eat their meal upon another veranda, and what
remains Is given 10 the pig.
Afterward husband and wife get ready for work
in the garden. The starts With spear or
club. while the wife follows with several net bags
hanging down her back from the head with which
to bring home food and hrewOod About three in the
afternoon they begin TO return the man bearing lis
weapons and the woman carrying food and frewood
for the next twenty four hours. with probably the
baby perched the top OF the burden. The net
bag has q loop which comes across the top Of the
head, and they begin to carry In this way from
childhood when the skull bones soft, "A hollow Is
produced In the skull In which this loop
rests. Immediately after returning from the garden
the man goes to his club while the woRlan lights the
fire and cooks the evening meal. which Is OF the
materials and Is disposed OF In III" same manner
the hrst. After supper II there has been no death in
the village within a MONTH they dance in the village
square. should the garden work not require atten.
ton. the day Is spent In rest.