A SOUTH SEA ISLAND MUMMY.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 91, 15 October 1881, Page 4

A SOUTH SEA ISLAND MUMMY.

Mr. S. Kohn, of Auckland, who is an enthusiastic collector of curiosities and a- ticle3 of yertu, h*s just mado a valuable addition to his extensive collection of South Sea Island curios, in the form of a well preserved mummy. His mummyship (according to the Star) was obtained from Malakola, a settlement in tho New Hebrides group, and strange to say the only locality in the South Seas where the natives follow the practices of tho anoient Egyptians with reference to the di-3-p jsal of their dead. It is exceedingly dimcult to obtain a specimen, as the natives, besides considering their preserved ancestors as the highest works of art, deem it the most dreadful sacrilege to dispose of them for filthy lucre. Mr. Kohn has been coveting one for some years, bnt not until now has he had his desire gratified. Tho mummy is that of a man of middle height. The bones of tho arms and legs have been removed, and their places filled with copra by the human taxidermist in a most skilful manner from the neck to the ankles ; for the feet are missing. The body is swathed tightly with the cocoanut fibre, and is as blaok as a sloe. The head bears tho appearance of having been smokecured, but the hair and features are tolerably well preserved. There is nothing repulsive about it, indeed it is difficult to believe it is not one of those grotesque images which are occasionally mot with in collections of island oiirios.