THE PRIMITIVE PAPUAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 300, 13 May 1911, Page 10

THE PRIMITIVE PAPUAN.

The annual report to the Federal Government on the Territory of Papua contains many evidences of the difficulties which are occasioned to the authorities by the survival of primitive ideas among the natives. It is nearly five years since a hospital was opened for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Trobriand Group, who are particularly liable to chest diseases and other serious complaints, but the natives are still unconvinced of the value of the treatment that is offered them. "Going to the hospital," says the report, "is in some ways like going to a Sunday service: very interesting, but it does not mend a canoe, or find a pearl, or fill a yam-house, or weed a garden." These arc fatal objections in the native mind to the popnlariiy of any innovation. In addition, (lure is scarcely-veil-ed contempt for the idea 'that cures can be effected in ca*cs where their own medicine-men have failed. 3 The Papuans, who are intensely superstitious, regard disease as the outward manifestation of the 'malevolent magic of some enemy, and they will not tolerate medicinal methods which take no heed of ineantation.s nor of copious expectoration over the diseased area. The report tells a good story in connection with the appearance of Halley's comet last year. While the comet was visible the southeast division of the Territory experienced a fortnight of dry weather, an unusually long period of drought, which played havoc with the gardens. The rain-makers of the villages made futile attempts to change the weather by means of the magic they practise, but one old man. more cunning than the rest, noticed that the comet was rising later every morning, and at once made capital out of his discovery that he would charm away the evil body that was apparent in the heavens. He retired to the bush, and the people anxiously awaited the disappearance of the comet. At length only the tail was visible, and the villagers became highly excited. When the day came on which the simple natives could see no comet there was great rejoicing,' and a light shower of rain on that day sent the villagers into ecstacies of delight. The old man was welcomed as a hero, but his glory was short-lived. When the comet reappeared in the evening sky he beat a hasty retreat from the village and his rivals came into their own again.