New-York tribune., 1907-10-13

-f~NS-S "a Inc picturesque VINO fear that Eu- /
rope VII presently be modernized out of all re-
seTnblance TO its historic past, need not despair
of having good hunting grounds left. There are
always the regions described in this book Brit
ish New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the
New Hebrides group. We do not see how the
iuvetorate traveller could resist the appeal Of
NJ Hardy's pictures and his colleagues de-
se-iptions. Taken together they are enough TO
start him off at once to the South Seas.
color books have been getting little r7onot-
orous hut this one is fresh and delightful Mt
Hardy pictures lovely scenes. calm waters 1
graceful vegetation, a world full Of color and in
the midst Of ii, figures that may be savage but
are nevertheless curiously attractive. The ply
iogDomies Of these natives are scarcely beautiful,
Int in most Of Mr., Hardy's portraits they are
surprisingly free from merely repulsive traits
and in some cases they are almost handsome.
Impressive indeed Is the New Guinea dandy
here portrayed. His tremendous head Of hair
IS worn in a fashion recalling that which was SO
popular among the gallauts you see in the paint
irgs # the Italian Renaissance. a band Of dogs
teeth Is stretched across his forehead and two
necklaces of similar character adorn his stall
Vart shoulders. Preposterous as It may seem,
the pointed and slightly curved piece Of bone
which is run through his nose adds a not un-
T.alsl1g effect II looks, indeed. like some fan
tas-Ic but neat moustachio. The skin Of this
L must be interesting 10 behold him on his na-
tive heath or, rather on his native glistening
beach. with the sapphire sea in the background
and the deep blue sky fecked with ieecy clouds
The manners Of this gentleman are. Of course,
peculiar Strange are the superstitons Of Brit
ish New Guinea When the native seeks the
death Of an enemy and cannot use force he re-
SORTS 10 magic, and the extraordinary thing is,
says Mr. Ellington. that If men OF women are
r.-r7-- /
the magician, they die. and in the way their
death has been foretold" The Papuan is a lazy
dog. leaving his women folk 20 do all the work
but i appears that he is not altogether TO blame
for the incidence in which he INDUCES himself
i was implanted in his nature by old circum-
stances. II early days, when one tribe was con-
stacIy endeavoring 10 massacre another. the
villagers q the sterner had to be guard
r. season and out Of season, and thus domestic
burdens We're inevitably placed upon the
shoulders Of the women.
Paradoxicaly. the importance Of the male
dos not make il any the easier for him 10 take
wife. In his twelfth year the Papuan boy
comes OUT into the marriage market. Thence
forth lie must wait until some maiden proposes
- him. Meanwhile, he is sent into the wilder
ness 70 fashion for himself drum Of lizard
skin. Il IS hard work. The wooden part Of the
drum must be hewn out from a solid block
This takes time, and Is the harder because the
youth must DO his work in solitude his food be-
i-g brought 70 him by friends and left secretly
II places previously arranged. At last the drum
Us made and the savage comes back amongst
his people He must not unduly hasten matters
Il he attempts TO seize his bride by force the
g-rl he waylays is privileged to scratch and
sLIte him TO any extent, and he may not re- ,
t4-Late lest her parents swoop down upon him !
He tries the following methods: I
Sweet music Of sensUous nature is often re-
sorted 70 hy the lovesct swain, and, leaning
against a tree he VIII stand and play all day
l9TE. hoping attract the attention Of his
ta-- and bring from her proposal Of marriage.
Tight Iacing and other forms of personal adorn-
mont also INDUCED in by these amorous ,
youths. and q more ridiculous sight could not be ,
seen tEan 4 young native with MS waist 50
strapped IN TO form = enormous, ugly bulge
IIired BY the girls and shows he q wife ,
badly
Obviously the Papuan is possessed Of the TO
mantle temperament. He has had his blood ,
thirsty phases, but these have been wearing
themselves out, and Nr. Ellington in describ-
ing him. has chiefly to tell Of his good humorcd ,
traits, his dances and so on Things are differ
e1t IN the Solomon Islands. The life Of the
white trader there, we told, is grnlly uncor-
tain. He may dwell for some time in fancied :
security but the islander is treachery itself and
in his moment Of greatest confidence the trader
may be murdered. This book contains stories