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hearts。
In New Ireland girls are confined for four or five years in small cages； being kept in the dark and not allowed to set foot on the ground。 The custom has been thus described by an eye…witness。 I heard from a teacher about some strange custom connected with some of the young girls here； so I asked the chief to take me to the house where they were。 The house was about twenty…five feet in length； and stood in a reed and bamboo enclosure； across the entrance to which a bundle of dried grass was suspended to show that it was strictly 'tabu。' Inside the house were three conical structures about seven or eight feet in height； and about ten or twelve feet in circumference at the bottom； and for about four feet from the ground； at which point they tapered off to a point at the top。 These cages were made of the broad leaves of the pandanus…tree； sewn quite close together so that no light and little or no air could enter。 On one side of each is an opening which is closed by a double door of plaited cocoa…nut tree and pandanus…tree leaves。 About three feet from the ground there is a stage of bamboos which forms the floor。 In each of these cages we were told there was a young woman confined； each of whom had to remain for at least four or five years； without ever being allowed to go outside the house。 I could scarcely credit the story when I heard it； the whole thing seemed too horrible to be true。 I spoke to the chief； and told him that I wished to see the inside of the cages； and also to see the girls that I might make them a present of a few beads。 He told me that it was 'tabu；' forbidden for any men but their own relations to look at them； but I suppose the promised beads acted as an inducement； and so he sent away for some old lady who had charge； and who alone is allowed to open the doors。 While we were waiting we could hear the girls talking to the chief in a querulous way as if objecting to something or expressing their fears。 The old woman came at length and certainly she did not seem a very pleasant jailor or guardian； nor did she seem to favour the request of the chief to allow us to see the girls； as she regarded us with anything but pleasant looks。 However； she had to undo the door when the chief told her to do so； and then the girls peeped out at us； and； when told to do so； they held out their hands for the beads。 I； however； purposely sat at some distance away and merely held out the beads to them； as I wished to draw them quite outside； that I might inspect the inside of the cages。 This desire of mine gave rise to another difficulty； as these girls were not allowed to put their feet to the ground all the time they were confined in these places。 However； they wished to get the beads； and so the old lady had to go outside and collect a lot of pieces of wood and bamboo； which she placed on the ground； and then going to one of the girls； she helped her down and held her hand as she stepped from one piece of wood to another until she came near enough to get the beads I held out to her。 I then went to inspect the inside of the cage out of which she had come； but could scarely put my head inside of it； the atmosphere was so hot and stifling。 It was clean and contained nothing but a few short lengths of bamboo for holding water。 There was only room for the girl to sit or lie down in a crouched position on the bamboo platform； and when the doors are shut it must be nearly or quite dark inside。 The girls are never allowed to come out except once a day to bathe in a dish or wooden bowl placed close to each cage。 They say that they perspire profusely。 They are placed in these stifling cages when quite young； and must remain there until they are young women； when they are taken out and have each a great marriage feast provided for them。 One of them was about fourteen or fifteen years old； and the chief told us that she had been there for five years； but would soon be taken out now。 The other two were about eight and ten years old； and they have to stay there for several years longer。
In Kabadi； a district of British New Guinea； daughters of chiefs； when they are about twelve or thirteen years of age； are kept indoors for two or three years； never being allowed； under any pretence； to descend from the house； and the house is so shaded that the sun cannot shine on them。 Among the Yabim and Bukaua； two neighbouring and kindred tribes on the coast of Northern New Guinea； a girl at puberty is secluded for some five or six weeks in an inner part of the house； but she may not sit on the floor； lest her uncleanliness should cleave to it； so a log of wood is placed for her to squat on。 Moreover； she may not touch the ground with her feet； hence if she is obliged to quit the house for a short time； she is muffled up in mats and walks on two halves of a coco…nut shell； which are fastened like sandals to her feet by creeping plants。 Among the Ot Danoms of Borneo girls at the age of eight or ten years are shut up in a little room or cell of the house； and cut off from all intercourse with the world for a long time。 The cell； like the rest of the house； is raised on piles above the ground； and is lit by a single small window opening on a lonely place； so that the girl is in almost total darkness。 She may not leave the room on any pretext whatever； not even for the most necessary purposes。 None of her family may see her all the time she is shut up； but a single slave woman is appointed to wait on her。 During her lonely confinement； which often lasts seven years； the girl occupies herself in weaving mats or with other handiwork。 Her bodily growth is stunted by the long want of exercise； and when； on attaining womanhood； she is brought out； her complexion is pale and wax…like。 She is now shown the sun； the earth； the water； the trees； and the flowers； as if she were newly born。 Then a great feast is made； a slave is killed； and the girl is smeared with his blood。 In Ceram girls at puberty were formerly shut up by themselves in a hut which was kept dark。 In Yap； one of the Caroline Islands； should a girl be overtaken by her first menstruation on the public road； she may not sit down on the earth； but must beg for a coco…nut shell to put under her。 She is shut up for several days in a small hut at a distance from her parents' house； and afterwards she is bound to sleep for a hundred days in one of the special houses which are provided for the use of menstruous women。
In the island of Mabuiag； Torres Straits； when the signs of puberty appear on a girl； a circle of bushes is made in a dark corner of the house。 Here； decked with shoulder…belts； armlets； leglets just below the knees； and anklets； wearing a chaplet on her head； and shell ornaments in her ears； on her chest； and on her back； she squats in the midst of the bushes； which are piled so high round about her that only her head is visible。 In this state of seclusion she must remain for three months。 All this time the sun may not shine upon her； but at night she is allowed to slip out of the hut； and the bushes that hedge her in are then changed。 She may not feed herself or handle food； but is fed by one or two old women； her maternal aunts； who are especially appointed to look after her。