Research Items

Abstract

Dried Head from New Guinea.—Mr. H. G. Beazley figures and describes in Man for December one of the rare dried heads of the Marind-anim (Tugeri) peoples of Dutch New Guinea. Two methods of preserving the head are known from the various districts of New Guinea. In addition to the ‘preserved’ head method, is that in which a reconstruction of clay overlies the cranium. In the specimen described here both methods are followed. While the original skin still covers the features, the posterior portion is entirely constructed of clay. The Tugeri to-day are an inland people; but they make periodical raids down river in their canoes on the peoples who inhabit scattered islands at the river mouth. It is possible that originally they were a coastal people, who were driven inland by later arrivals. Their social organisation would seem to require a steady stream of captives for the supply of these reconstructed heads, which are obtained from the captives brought back to the Tugeri villages. The prisoners' legs are broken to prevent their escape and their death takes place only at the feasts that are held on the return of the raiders. The object of the raids is to secure the souls of the victims, and immediately before they are killed they are made to cry out by ill-treatment. Whatever cry is uttered is accepted as the name of the spirit. The word is treasured and the influence of the spirit, of which it is the name, will guard and benefit the captor. An outstanding feature of this type of preserved head is the fibre ‘wig’, which is added owing to the fact that most of the coast peoples have short hair. Lengths of fibre are close woven at their base to form a close-fitting cap which is attached to the scalp.