New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-01
Queer Peoples Described
BV Veteran IraVeIIer

ne will do so without hesitation: but Wnen
danger and possible death confront him ne
ia a coward Nor does he bear pain Win
the fortitude exhibited by most savases-
The Papuans dearly love red paint-their
greed for it has no bounds For a nanoIuI
of red paint one may obtain enough bread
fruit and vegetables TO stock a market As
a sign of mourning in some parts, 1t Il
customary TO smear the face and head WIN
a sticky. black LIQUID something Ike p1tch-
The enormous mop of hair OF which the
Papuan is so proud Is kept from getting
hopelesslv tangled by occasionally berg
combed through with a pronsed bamboo
ccmb-
It Is easy 20 know an unmarried slrl
from a married woman. for the hair OF Tie
former is frizzed out to its utmost capacity
till she appears as IL she were cartlns
bush about on her head. and Is adorned
with pink shells or glass beads All the
women are tattooed extensively, and a v
shaped mark, terminating in a point upon
the chest shows that they are either en-
gagged or married
When a Papuan boy gets to the age at
which a white boy begins thinking about
taking TO stand-up collars. instead OF en-
casing his neck in q rampant OF stiff linen
tight that his ribs protrude over it Ike the
chest Of a pouter pigeon. This belt ter
inmates at the back IN kind OF tail, which
trails upon the ground and the more wasp
like his waist the more airs the boy gives
himself When he has assumed this wooden
belt he is called ibitoe, and becomes en-
titled 10 all the privileges OF q full grown
man-provided. that Is. that he has fulfilled
rbe dirty of making 4 drum Every fbttos
has 70 do this
The young fellows usually 30 OF IN a
party to secluded corner OF the jungle
for during this important operation they
NAV not have any communication with any
one: even food is brought 20 them sur
reptitiousIy and they fetch it away when
no one is about. II they happened oy any
chance 10 see a woman or girl the making
of a drum would have to be recommended
This drum making seems 70 be a very
tickIish business II the ibttoe swallows a
fshbone il would certainly cause the drum,
to burst while if he touches water his fire.
brand would be extinguished and he would
never succeed in following out his drum
HOW YOUTHS GET WIVES
II is curious rule. says Dr. A c. Had
don. who conducted an expedition 70 Torres
STRAITS TUT Nlle pun BoSC u SNN0|- Is 49,
toms Of ire natives there. that an iottoe
may not on any account walk through the
main street Of village. but must go round
at the back OF the houses. His chief object
in life. when he has made his drum. Is 10
secure a wife Accordingly he waylays any
damsel who takes his fancy and offers her
gifts II she is timid she screams and runs
70 her parents; IL not. she usually responds
bv v+c-crously scratching and pUmmeirng
her E.. alirer who dare not resist for fear
of hes parents wrath II all his efforts 90
win the rnaiden's appreciation are uuavatl-
ing he goes To a sOrcerer. who usually
succeeds in arranging matters satisfac-
toriIy.
Having given so much description OF tho
savage customs Of the PaDuans. the follow
ing account by Dr. HaddOn or II service IN
the Roman Catholic church at YUle Island
will provide a pleasant contrast. The naen,
he says sat on one side. women on ens
other The children were Pa front, and tbs
age graduated backward the oldest being
nearest 10 the door. The men were noe
troubled with a superiority az clothing sas
their faces shone with white. red and black
paint and some were trigged out with
beads and necklaces as though they were
going TO a dance. Every now and then
little naked chaps would troC up nand N
hand TO the altar. bow. dart TO the right
and squat upon the door The girls were
gIistening with oil and wearing their best
she'll ornaments The priest preached IN
the native tongue. Illustrating his worcs
by pointing to pictures OF various BIBLICAL
incidents-EnJah fed by the ravens. tho
Last Supper. and so on. After the sermon
two Papuan boys. in red cassocks and
white SUPPLIES. which looked strangely IN
congruous WIKI their fuzzy heads and
brown skin acted az aeoiyues with much
reverence. The moment the service was
over. however, = transformation scene tecs
place. sor they disappeared bstind tns
altar. Whenee they very shortly emergcd
almost nude and adorned in most approved
native fashion. with painted faces and shall
nrnAmanrz JOHN EOSTER ERAzG6