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he opposite arm； so as to cross each other。 This has a very pretty appearance； in part due to the contrast of the white beads or kangaroo teeth of which they are composed with the dark glossy skin。 The earrings themselves are formed of a bar of copper or silver； twisted so that the ends cross。 The men； as usual among savages； adorn themselves more than the women。 They wear necklaces； earrings； and finger rings； and delight in a band of plaited grass tight round the arm just below the shoulder； to which they attach a bunch of hair or bright coloured feathers by way of ornament。 The teeth of small animals； either alone； or alternately with black or white beads； form their necklaces； and sometimes bracelets also。 For these latter； however； they prefer brass wire； or the black； horny； wing…spines of the cassowary； which they consider a charm。 Anklets of brass or shell； and tight plaited garters below the knee； complete their ordinary decorations。
Some natives of Kobror from further south； and who are reckoned the worst and least civilized of the Aru tribes； came one day to visit us。 They have a rather more than usually savage appearance； owing to the greater amount of ornaments they usethe most conspicuous being a large horseshoe…shaped comb which they wear over the forehead； the ends resting on the temples。 The back of the comb is fastened into a piece of wood； which is plated with tin in front； and above is attached a plume of feathers from a cock's tail。 In other respects they scarcely differed from the people I was living with。 They brought me a couple of birds； some shells and insects； showing that the report of the white man and his doing had reached their country。 There was probably hardly a man in Aru who had not by this time heard of me。
Besides the domestic utensils already mentioned； the moveable property of a native is very scanty。 He has a good supply of spears and bows and arrows for hunting； a parang； or chopping… knife； and an axe…for the stone age has passed away here； owing to the commercial enterprise of the Bugis and other Malay races。 Attached to a belt； or hung across his shoulder； he carrion a little skin pouch and an ornamented bamboo； containing betel…nut； tobacco； and lime； and a small German wooden…handled knife is generally stuck between his waist…cloth of bark and his bare shin。 Each man also possesses a °cadjan；〃 or sleeping…mat； made of the broad leaves of a pandanus neatly sewn together in… three layers。 This mat is abort four feet square； and when folded has one end sewn up； so that it forms a kind of sack open at one side。 In the closed corner the head or feet can be placed； or by carrying it on the head in a shower it forms both coat and umbrella。 It doubles up ix a small compass for convenient carriage； and then forms a light and elastic cushion； so that on a journey it becomes clothing； house； bedding； and furniture； all in one。
The only ornaments in an Aru horse are trophies of the chase jaws of wild pigs； the heads and backbones of cassowaries； and plumes made from the feathers of the Bird of Paradise； cassowary； and domestic fowl。 The spears； shields； knife…handles； and other utensils are more or less carved in fanciful designs； and the mats and leaf boxes are painted or plaited in neat patterns of red； black； and yellow colours。 I must not forget these boxes； which are most ingeniously made of the pith of a balm leaf pegged together； lined inside with pandanus leaves； and outside with the same； or with plaited grass。 All the joints and angles are coffered with strips of split rattan sewn neatly on。 The lid is covered with the brown leathery spathe of the Areca palm； which is impervious to water； and the whole box is neat； strong； and well finished。 They are made from a few inches to two or three feet long； and being much esteemed by the Malay as clothes…boxes； are a regular article of export from Aru。 The natives use the smaller ones for tobacco or betel…nut； but seldom have clothes enough to require the larger ones； which are only made for sale。
Among the domestic animals which may generally be seen in native houses； are gaudy parrots； green； red； and blue； a few domestic fowls； which have baskets hung for them to lay in under the eaves； and who sleep on the ridge； and several half…starved wolfish…baking dogs。 Instead of rats and mice there are curious little marsupial animals about the same size； which run about at night and nibble anything eatable that may be left uncovered。 Four or five different kinds of ants attack everything not isolated by water； and one kind even swims across that； great spiders lurk in baskets and boxes； or hide in the folds of my mosquito curtain； centipedes and millepedes are found everywhere。 I have caught them under my pillow and on my bead； while in every box； and under every hoard which has lain for some days undisturbed； little scorpions are sure to be found snugly ensconced； with their formidable tails quickly turned up ready for attack or defence。 Such companions seem very alarming and dangerous； but all combined are not so bad as the irritation of mosquitoes； or of the insect pests often found at home。 These latter are a constant and unceasing source of torment and disgust； whereas you may live a long time among scorpions； spiders； and centipedes； ugly and venomous though they are； and get no harm from them。 After living twelve years in the tropics； I have never yet been bitten or stung by either。
The lean and hungry dogs before mentioned were my greatest enemies； and kept me constantly on the watch。 If my boys left the bird they were skinning for an instant； it was sure to be carried off。 Everything eatable had to be hung up to the roof； to be out of their reach。 Ali had just finished skinning a fine King Bird of Paradise one day； when he dropped the skin。 Before he could stoop to pick it up； one of this famished race had seized upon it； and he only succeeded in rescuing it from its fangs after it was torn to tatters。 Two skins of the large Paradisea； which were quite dry and ready to pack away； were incautiously left on my table for the night； wrapped up in paper。 The next morning they were gone； and only a few scattered feathers indicated their fate。 My hanging shelf was out of their reach； but having stupidly left a box which served as a step； a full…plumaged Paradise bird was next morning missing； and a dog below the house was to be seen still mumbling over the fragments； with the fine golden plumes all trampled in the mud。 Every night； as soon as I was in bed； I could hear them searching about for what they could devour； under my table； and all about my boxes and baskets； keeping me in a state of suspense till morning； lest something of value might incautiously have been left within their read。 They would drink the oil of my floating lamp and eat the wick； and upset or break my crockery if my lazy boys had neglected to wash away even the smell of anything eatable。 Bad； however； as they are here； they were worse in a Dyak's house in Borneo where I was once staying； for there they gnawed off the tops of my waterproof boots； ate a large piece out of an old leather game…bag； besides devouring a portion of my mosquito curtain！
April 28th。Last evening we had a grand consultation； which had evidently been arranged and discussed beforehand。 A number of the natives gathered round me； and said they wanted to talk。 Two of the best Malay scholars helped each other； the rest putting in hints and ideas in their own language。 They told me a long rambling story； but； partly owing to their imperfect knowledge of Malay； partly through my ignorance of local terms； and partly through the incoherence of their narrative； I could not make it out very clearly。 It was； however； a tradition； and I was glad to find they had anything of the kind。 A long time ago； they said； some strangers came to Aru； and came here to Wanumbai； and the chief of the Wanumbai people did not like them； and wanted them to go away； but they would not go； and so it came to fighting； and many Aru men were killed； and some； along with the chief； were taken prisoners； and carried away by the strangers。 Some of the speakers； however； said that he was not carried away； but went away in his ow