The canoes of the Nicobarians are not so beautifully formed as those of the Mincopies, but are constructed on the same principle, being hollowed out of the trunks of trees, and supported by a slight outrigger. They have a very high and ornamental prow, and are propelled by short paddles. They are very light, and, when properly manned, skim over the water at an astonishing pace. Some of them are nearly sixty feet in length, while others are barely six or seven feet long, and only intended for one person. The mode of burial is not in the least like that which is employed among the Mincopies. When a man dies, the body is placed in a coffin, which is generally made from a canoe. The canoe is cut in half, the body being laid in one moiety, and covered with the other half. In order to supply the deceased with provisions for his journey to the spirit-land, a pig is killed and placed in the coffin, together with a supply of yams and cocoa-nuts. In case he should be attacked on his journey, a quantity of weapons, such as bows, spears, and cutlasses, are placed in the coffin. The body is buried in the middle of the village, and the spot marked by a stick, to which is attached a small streamer. After some time, when the body has been consumed by the earth, the coffin is dug up again. The deceased being now supposed to have completed his journey to his spirit-home, his bones are thrown into the bush, and the cutlasses and other weapons distributed among his relatives. CHAPTER XC. NEW GUINEA. THE HOME OF THE PAPUAN RACE -- DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF THE RACE -- DERIVATION OF THE NAME -- GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE PAPUANS -- THE SIGN OF PEACE -- AN UNFORTUNATE MISUNDERSTANDING -- DRESS AND ORNAMENTS OF THE TRIBES OF DOURGA STRAIT -- THEIR AGILITY AMONG THE TREES -- THE OUTANATA TRIBES -- TATTOOING AND ORNAMENTS -- ELABORATE ARCHITECTURE -- WEAPONS -- THE DUST SIGNALS AND THEIR MEANING -- THEIR UNSUSPICIOUS NATURE -- ABRAUW, THE CHIEF. We now come to the very home and centre of the Papuan race. New Guinea is a very large island, fourteen hundred miles in length, and, as far as has been ascertained, containing some two hundred thousand geographical square miles. It is separated from Australia only by Torres Strait, and, as we have seen, a certain amount of intercourse has taken place between the Papuans of the south of New Guinea and the natives who inhabit the north of Australia. Fertile in the vegetable kingdom, it possesses one or two animals which have the greatest interest for the naturalist, such as the tree-kangaroo, the crowned pigeon, and the bird of paradise. It is equally interesting to the ethnologist as being the home of the Papuan race.