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The Pa Maori

New Guinea

New Guinea

Mr. J. P. Thomson, in his work British New Guinea, gives some information concerning a fortified village in that region:—"The village of Merani is located on the left bank of the Domara-wai river, and surrounded by a strong palisade of an oval form some 75 yds. long and 30 yds. broad, constructed of 6 in. saplings some 15 ft. long, deeply fixed into the ground about 2 in. apart, and kept securely in position by crossbars, to which they are fastened about 10 ft. from the ground. This fortification is entered by four openings, which in position correspond with the cardinal points of the compass, and these are effectually closed by horizontal sliding bars The west end of the village is guarded by two tree houses, with fighting page 431platforms, constructed in large trees about 80 ft. high The eastern side of the stockade also possesses a tree house overlooking the gate."

Several writers refer to the fortified villages of New Guinea, but we still lack a good description of them. Haddon's statement concerning the upward sloping stages secured to the upper part of the stockades of fortified places of New Guinea, is of interest for such stages formed a marked feature of our pa maori of New Zealand.