THE PAPUAN TRIBES.Among the Dorians, or the inhabitants of the north coast of New Guinea, near
Port Dory, an almost childish superstition prevails. Always and everywhere they
carry about with them a variety of charms and talismans, such as bits of bone, or
quartz, or carved wood, to which, for some reason or other, an artificial value
has come to be attached. Those among them who have acquired a slight
knowledge of Mohammedanism use verses of the Koran written upon narrow
strips of paper by the Mohammedan priests of Ceram and Tidore. But most of
the Dorians are pagans, and worship an idol called “Karwar,” a clumsy figure of
which, carved in wood, holding a shield, and distinguished by an exceptionally
large head, with a sharp nose and a wide mouth, is kept in every house, and
plays the part of a dumb oracle. Its owner, when involved in any difficulty or
danger, hastens to crouch before it, bowing or salaaming repeatedly, with his
hands clasped upon his forehead. If while thus engaged he experiences an
emotion of doubt or despondency, it is considered an evil sign, and he proceeds
to abandon whatever may have been his wish or object. It will thus be seen that
everything depends upon the votary’s temperament or natural disposition,—if he
be a sanguine and resolute man, it is not likely that he will be conscious of any
untoward sensation; and, in such a case, he of course concludes that he has the
sanction of his “Karwar.” In other words, his will fortifies him to carry out his
wishes. But even among civilised nations a similar method of “consulting the
oracle,”—of soliciting the advice of another with the intention of following it
only if it coincides with one’s own desires,—is sometimes heard of!
The Dorians appear to maintain a priestly caste; but its functions are confined to
the interpretation of dreams and omens; besides which its members act as
“medicine men.” There are no religious rites, no sacrifices. The two notable
events of marriage and death pass with little show. In the former, the intending
bride and bridegroom sit down before the Karwar, the woman offers the man
homage in the shape of tobacco and betel-leaf; then they join hands, rise up, and
are recognised as man and wife. When a death occurs, the corpse is wrapped in a
white calico shroud, and interred in a pit about five feet deep. There it lies upon
its side in the midst of its weapons and ornaments, and a porcelain dish under its
ear. The grave is afterwards filled up with earth, roofed over with dried grass,
and crowned with the Karwar of the departed.
The Aruans, like the Papuans, belong to the Australo-Malay division of the
Archipelago, and their religious system is but a little more developed. And here
we may note that as we recede from Asia and advance through the great chain of