Trading Changes In Torres

No More Heads.

Trading Changes In Torres Straits.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Thursday Is., Nov. 25.

IN the old days, before boundaries were defined so closely as now, there was a good deal of intercourse between the natives of New Guinea (Papua) and Torres Strait; and bartering was car ried on for various commodities.

The Torres Strait islander took up arm-shells and human heads, both of considerable value in Papuan eyes: and in return received canoes, sago, bows and arrows, cassowary feathers, and other things.

Permits have to be procured now if the Islanders desire to visit the neigh bouring “big island,” which is only three miles from the most northerly of the Torres Strait group; and under special circumstances the latter people may go straight to Darn and obtain permission instead of having first to travel 80 miles south to Thursday Island to be passed.

Canoes from New Guinea also have per mission to visit their Straits friends from time to time, and on these occasions there is generally sale of commodities.

Arm shells (from which the orna ments are cut) still have a value; but, human heads being a prohibited export on the one hand, and an article which regulations do not approve of on the other, something else has to take their place. Give turtle, caught on the reefs on the way up, form a modern substi tute, and are readily saleable to the Papuan. The islander, despite facilities for purchasing rice and flour, has not lost his taste for sago; and the long

packages of “Bissi,” as it is called, con sisting of the native sago wrapped in leaf and then secured by pieces of palm three or four feet long, are much sought after.

The Fly River supplies most of the sago bought; and if the Island folk do not have opportunity of purchasing right on the spot, they either get it from Daru through the stores, or else the Mabudauan people purchase a con signment of sago from the Fly River home manufacturers and bring it down to the Saibai Island group for sale, get ting their own little bit of commission on the transaction, of course. A package of sago weighing about twenty pounds is sold at three shillings, the heavier parcels being priced proportionately.