Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1921-09-14

Ne" 6uinea w
Prepared by the National Geographic s1.
ciety, Washington. -. O.
Perhaps IL is logical enough that
iess should be- known about the largest
heavily Inhabited island IN The world
NNw Guinea than about the Smuirr
and more easily trpv"rs"d 'a"ts %
the sea. especially since II les. Ike
the nc.ghhoring continent of Australia.
near the nntipodcs oi the western
world. flr from the beaten track.
This island has come into notice re-
GENTLY through the action Of the
League of Nations IN giving to Aus
irnlia the mandate for It's northeastern
quarter. formerly colonial possession
of Germany II Is probable. too. that
It may be- one Of the subjects of dis
cusSion when the problems of the Pa.
citc are taken up In Washington.
Except for fringe ~ few widely
separated settlements and mission sta
tions along the coasts. New Guinea Cor
rapua To- give Il It's native name) r.
a paradise Of savugery. Probably In
no other area Of equal extent In the
world ha civilization made so light
mn imprint In the interior Of the
great island heuds are hunted rs IN
smaller regions elsewhere canuibnl
fcaSts are held savage duiertS ARE
spoken Innocent of any modification
10y civilized language primitive voap.
ons nrc used. and there Is practically
H..
the outside world.
Origin OF papuans Unknown.
The origin of the Oriental negroes"
Of rnpun is nm unsolvcd problem to
to the east aud north aud toward
Asia. straight. .hnired. relatively fair
MalayS are found But me PupuunS
arc black woolly-halrpd negroes ike
'hc natives uf the far-awuy Guinea
roast Of western Africa. II wa, this
resemblance hctwc"n the Inhabitants
af rapnH md Guinea that gave the
island It's more common name among
wcstcrnrrs, Though the rnpunn race
+ distinct and though large numbers
of the pure stock exist on the islgad.
the negro strain has also been 1.Nrd
with Mulayan blood resulting tn nu.
morous racial grndalions.
The natives OF the southeastern
part of the island may be- said to
hnrk buck lp the days of their
orhorcnl prc-humau ancestors, for
they live m rude leaf nud straw.
tharyhod towels which they construct
Voc trees Though this custom of tree
| dwelling is not followed a. any grrnt
extent 'u other portions of Now
Guinea. lhr natives ~ the island ull
| ,rrm determined tn i've well un the
ground. The fuyorItc lnluurluns
| Throughout barge part or he country
nrc constructed ON high plies ON the
| protected ground h,uruth these Struc-
/ tuics the culinary operations, ARE u~u.
|uIly carried en- Many of he huld.
| Iugs are long. uarruw communal Hf
! fairs. huus ug score ar more If un-
| tivrs. In many cases these hahI'n.
/ tlnn~ are merely dark tunnels. hut boo
I other, they mr divided into cnWpnr-
| mruts, Clo'hug hothcrs rhc rapums
| hW liitlc but they give much urfru.
lion To- painting nnd Ht"uug their
/ bodies and tr hrdrcS'us themselves
with neck nose nnd ear ornaments
Odd Native Customs,
There is very little furniture 'u
ruuunu dwellings tu be- shifted about
! ~ the 'Iwdy uf the hou,c un clcnring
day Important among lhe few mo,.
/ nllrs are hard unrruw wouaru blocks
scouprd uul 90 iit the neck -"pIl'ovs"
which would hardly upurui 10 western
cr- u- substitute, for thcit soft down
| filed cushions
| Some uf The tribes near the cOnSt
/ have passion for bathing 81 great
! that they mpule love of the wutrr
to the spirits of their departed tribes.
men To facilitate "SpIrit bathing '
surviving relatives and friends care
| fuily construct and keep open paths
leading from each grave to the sea,
When they are not dining on choice
| cuts from some enemy trlhcsman
rnpuans out IN the main Il proSalc
enough diet of bananas. yams. Sago
hrcadfrult and the meats Of various
animals aud fish. But ms choice It'd
| hits soua uf tho tribes pnt cprtnit