The people may be divided into two classes; the one called the Papuans, the other the Malayo-Polynesians. The first resemble the African Negroes, having a black skin, and crisp (Papua means “crisp”) and woolly hair, broad noses, receding chins and foreheads and thick, protruding lips. These Oceanica Negroes live mainly in New Guinea. They are also found in the woods and mountain fastnesses of some other islands. They seemed destined to be utterly destroyed in the struggle with new-coming races. The second, the Malayo-Polynesians, are the brown or copper-colored race of Oceanica. They greatly resemble the Arabs in character, customs and appearance. They are half-civilized, while the Papuans are barbarous. They overspread almost the whole of the southern Pacific Islands. They readily responded to the religious teachings and civilizing influences of Asia. In Java especially they became almost a reproduction of the people of India, in their religion, language and habits. THE DEPRAVED CONDITION OF THE PAPUANS. [Illustration: A PAPUAN FETICH HOUSE. Various charms and fetiches are here brought together, and persons afflicted in all imaginable ways assemble to secure the benefits supposed to emanate from such a collection. Fetiches may also be purchased here in sizes and styles to suit the necessities and the means of purchasers.] The religious condition of the Papuans is very low. They resemble somewhat the American Indians and the lower African peoples in their faith and worship. The idea of God has almost vanished from their minds. They recognize, indeed, not a moral Ruler, but a great awe-inspiring and mysterious power. Their whole worship is a mere attempt at propitiating the angry and malignant gods and evil spirits. There are no shrines or temples, no priests, no sacred books. They make _fetiches_ of pieces of sculpture, a snake, a lizard, a bit of bone or sometimes an image of a man. This last is called a _karwar_ and is found in almost every hut, and answers the purpose of an oracle and idol. In consulting it, they squat before it, clasp their hands over the forehead, bow repeatedly, at the same time stating their intentions. If they are seized with any nervous feeling, it is considered a bad sign. If they feel hopeful, the idol is supposed to approve. It is deemed necessary that a _karwar_ should be present on all important occasions. [Illustration: TATTOOED GIRL OF OCEANICA.] THE PAGAN POLYNESIANS. We see in the Malayo-Polynesians a reproduction of the worship of the Aztecs of Mexico. Together with some knowledge of arts and civilization, the most savage atrocities exist--infanticide, human sacrifices, the choking to death of whole families in honor of some fallen chief, brutish feasts upon the bodies of their foes and even of their fellow-subjects.