NEW CALEDONIA LINKS WITH THE PAST

Arty AnTiDote, Issue 6, 2 October 1943, Page 4

NEW CALEDONIA LINKS WITH THE PAST

Strange as it may sooni; natives in New Caledonia during t e first year’s of white sec t.lemon, r ad a system of currency, ai.l the own« Their currency consisted of smells P forked into the shape, of pearls with great care and patience. Apart from t its me no. Give of tills island was in many respects less pi ctur■■ o s ixe th a n most x. n the Pacific* The men went almost naked .for instead of the vincleaf uhey all wore a piece of fibre which accentuated rather than concealed. Tho ? omen wore a short fringed skirt of ■oiled pandanus fibre round their ‘lips. Both sexes adorned themselves with necklaces of flying fox feathers interwoven with shells, Above the Ibow and on their legs just' above .he .ankle they wore bands of similar . ate rial. The Nev/ Caledonian native I is own as a skilled potter, for c eking utensils they utilised clay and scraped coconut shells effectively •Lid liquids, They made their v.capons with sharp-pointed stones and -ells. They fought with tomahawks, pears and slings. Bamboo they ■ rked into large-too th combs and forks, Baskets and mats they made WJ.th particular skill, C ons ?1e re d in gen ionswe re he i r l'■ fixation me th od s Tho natives diverted spring water in bamboo pipes loading often long distances to ,e table patches out in the mountain s: ; .es 3 Th© method exists to this day. Taros were cultivated in these terraces while yarns wore planted on ‘tri? r ground? Their dug-out canoes wore so a- , i-thy craft in which they were not afraid to brave the ocean, Much • of their fishing? nevertheless? wars, done along the shore? principally at

SHELLS USED A 3 CURRENCY BY PRIMITIVE NATIVES

night when they dazzled the fish with 'go vanes and spec, reel mem? Slow? strong swimmers the black took to tin sea as his fancy took him or 1 to fish, far he was ignorant of c 1 e ins as.. A tuft of grass x»ub b*• cd an the body or hands was his idea of a wash An early resident stated that the .odour* they exhaled reminded one of the flying fox- Their smoky mud huts in... .-D11.,/, beehives ? windowless and with. but one low doorway > devoid of ventilation was in large me a s e re sn onsi b 1 e a Their mop of fuzzy Acfc . flattened noses and receding foreheads gave them a simian appearance 0 The Loyalty

Island natives -v, men of Lifou* Mujyj and Guven «-• had more; regular featurGHj Their hair was finer and sub in. long waves., The natives? to ? immigrants to the mainland, posses a highly developed musi cal ins t inc t ani tho Ix* songs wo re beautally hax*monincda On each side of the enbx-anoo to their* mud huts was a c ou.r Ejoly 1 sculpt** ur c d piece o f wood, re xncenting h hideously grimacing he ad depicting GaXC rx* J.CxGU oi bi .*,} be au, GX .1 cilq T*iq chief’s house was adorned at the rooftop with a high sculptured totem dec or a.t □ d with ahull s-, p »io ab a of cl■■:• rudimentary religion? the witch doc t er? s c •.-... need inf Init a V-• ape »t