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Show CURIOU8 PAPUAN LAWS. Tribe Where Sisters' Children Inherit Msn's Property. A Methodist missionary in British New Guinea now known as Papua-Rev. Papua-Rev. W. E. Drownlow, has added to the world's knowledge ot the curious and little known races of the great north Pacific Island by the discovery nd partial taming of a new tribe. The race In question conttgtsofabout 20,000 blacks, living at a place called Dobu. The customs ot the race are must curious. The Immigration policy Is more drastic than that of "White Australia," for all Btrangers have either to become be-come full members of the tribe or bo eaten. When dealing with Mr. Brown-low, Brown-low, however, the difficulty waa got over by making him a father of the tribe Each tribe and each family had their own land, and no portion Is allowed al-lowed to go out of their possession except as a loan for a season's crop. The men marry out of their own tribe and on their death their land becomes the property of their sisters' children. Women havo great Influence In the affalrB of the tribe, and their duties are quite distinct from those of the men. The men clear the bush and dig the ground, then the women lire-pare lire-pare it and plant yams, the crop being be-ing theirs. It a man wants any yams he has to ask for them. The banana patch, however, Is his own property. Wives are obtained by purchase. If a man pays well for his wife he can thrash her occasionally, but she could leave him If she did not like It, and go back to her own village. Tbelr heaven Is a place where the healthy, strong and good-looking go. All the others go to hell. London Chronicle. |