Papua Artifacts

BY D. H. OSBORNE, OF ROSSEL IS.

WHEN I read the February issue of the PIM, I was reminded that disc stone clubs were common among the Orikiyas, on the Mambare and Kumusi Rivers, in NE Papua, 50 vears ago.

The disc clubs were from eight to 12 inches in diameter and were made of blue diorite, with a hole drilled in the centre. “Pineapple” clubs were rare.

They were made of blue diorite, about the size and shape of a Mills bomb.

When I first handled a Mills bomb, I thought of the Orikivas.

After Sir William MacGregor and Mr.

Monckton put an end to skull-cracking, clubs went out of fashion.

On the Kumusi, I have seen large trees that had been hacked down with stone implements. Fire was used a good deal in clearing gardens. Gardens were much larger, and native food more plentiful than to-day.

In the early days, on the Yodda gold field, about 1900, Jimmy Judge dug up a stone battle-axe. Bill Ivory bought it for £5 and presented it to Mr. Monck ton, who sent it to a museum in London.

Jack Murphy dug up a stone lizard, with wings, carved out of stone—it was 15 feet under the surface. Murphy sold it for £3O and it was sent to a London museum.

On the Ikora there is a large “mon ster,” cut out of stone. Monckton tried to move it to the coast, but it was too heavy.

Davy James dug up a pestle on the Lakekamu —it may be the same one as shown in the picture in February PIM.

All those relics were dug up in parts that are no-man’s-land to-day. Judging from the depth those artifacts were buried, the inhabitants concerned must have lived a long time ago. that are no-man’s-land to-day. Judging was a pineapple club made of pure gold, held by a tribe inland from Tufi (or Cape Nelson). He led a party of three miners (Ned Driscol, Owen Mit chell, and Jim Gallagher) in search of the reef the gold was taken from. After a short time, Monckton returned to the station. The miners remained in the bush until their rations were finished, but without locating reef or club. They did not express any kind regards for Mr.

Monckton on their return from the bush.