Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
I had, however, some consolation in the birds my boys brought home daily, more espe-
cially the Paradiseas, which they at length obtained in full plumage. It was quite a relief to
my mind to get these, for I could hardly have torn myself away from Aru had I not obtained
specimens. But what I valued almost as much as the birds themselves was the knowledge of
their habits, which I was daily obtaining both from the accounts of my hunters, and from the
conversation of the natives. The birds had now commenced what the people here call their
'sácaleli,' or dancing-parties, in certain trees in the forest, which are not fruit trees as I at
first imagined, but which have an immense head of spreading branches and large but
scattered leaves, giving a clear space for the birds to play and exhibit their plumes. On one
of these trees a dozen or twenty full-plumaged male birds assemble together, raise up their
wings, stretch out their necks, and elevate their exquisite plumes, keeping them in a continu-
al vibration. Between whiles they fly across from branch to branch in great excitement, so
that the whole tree is filled with waving plumes in every variety of attitude and motion. (See
brown colour. The head and neck is of a pure straw yellow above, and rich metallic green
beneath. The long plumy tufts of golden orange feathers spring from the sides beneath each
wing, and when the bird is in repose are partly concealed by them. At the time of its excite-
ment, however, the wings are raised vertically over the back, the head is bent down and
stretched out, and the long plumes are raised up and expanded till they form two magnifi-
cent golden fans, striped with deep red at the base, and fading off into the pale brown tint of
the finely divided and softly waving points. The whole bird is then overshadowed by them,
the crouching body, yellow head, and emerald green throat forming but the foundation and
setting to the golden glory which waves above. When seen in this attitude, the Bird of
Paradise really deserves its name, and must be ranked as one of the most beautiful and most
wonderful of living things. I continued also to get specimens of the lovely little king-bird
occasionally, as well as numbers of brilliant pigeons, sweet little parroquets, and many curi-
ous small birds, most nearly resembling those of Australia and New Guinea.
Here, as among most savage people I have dwelt among, I was delighted with the beauty
of the human form—a beauty of which stay-at-home civilized people can scarcely have any
conception. What are the finest Grecian statues to the living, moving, breathing men I saw
daily around me? The unrestrained grace of the naked savage as he goes about his daily oc-
cupations, or lounges at his ease, must be seen to be understood; and a youth bending his
bow is the perfection of manly beauty. The women, however, except in extreme youth, are
by no means so pleasant to look at as the men. Their strongly-marked features are very un-
feminine, and hard work, privations, and very early marriages soon destroy whatever of
