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 UBRARY FACILITY 
 
University of Illinois 
 
^ I. 
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 ^ in 2016 
 
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 https://archive.org/details/adventuresinnewg00treg_0 
 
ADVENTURES IN NEW GUINEA 
 
 THE NARRATIVE OF lOUIS TREGANCE 
 ^ Jrcttch §atlot 
 
 NINE YEARS IN CAPTIVITY AMONG THE OEANGWOKS 
 A TRIBE IN THE INTERIOR OF NEW GDINEA 
 
 EDITED, AND WITH AN INTRODUCTION, BY 
 
 THE REV. HENRY CROCKER 
 
 INCUMBEA^T OB’ ST. ANNE’s, WBReMAI, N.Z. 
 
 NMW AND OHEAPEU EDITION 
 
 LONDON 
 
 SAMPSON LOW, MAESTON & COMPANY 
 
 Limited 
 
 ilunstan's Doti6t 
 
 Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.O. 
 
 1892 
 
 \_All rights reserved] 
 

 LONDON i 
 
 PRINTED BY GILBERT AND JUVINGTON, LD., 
 3T. JOHN’S HOUSE, CLERKENWELU ROAD, E.C. 
 
INTEODUCTION. 
 
 The following narrative contains the life and 
 adventures of Louis Tregance, while in cap- 
 tivity among the Orangwoks, a tribe inhabit- 
 ing the interior of New Guinea, from which 
 place he made his escape to the continent of 
 Australia. However, it will be better that 
 he should tell his own story, contained in the 
 following narrative ; and in introducing it to 
 the public, I will simply explain how I came 
 to accept the task of preparing it for the 
 press, and to what extent I am responsible 
 for what is here written. In the beginning 
 of March (the 7th of that month, I find from 
 my note-book), I was called in to visit a sick 
 parishioner — a young man, a stranger to the 
 place. He was suffering from an attack of 
 typhoid fever, and was exceedingly ill. He 
 was apparently about thirty-five years old, 
 and his face was well bronzed. He was the 
 mate of a colonial vessel, and had been taken 
 ill on her arrival in port. His friend the 
 
iv 
 
 Introduction 
 
 captain, Philip Rigaud, had left him ander 
 the care of the people of the house, and had 
 otherwise provided for his necessities. On 
 his recovery he was to join his ship at New- 
 castle, whither she had sailed about a week 
 before. All this I learned from the people 
 in whose care he was left. I saw him con- 
 stantly after this, until he recovered, and was 
 able to get about. Finding him an intelli- 
 gent man, and knowing him to be without 
 friends in the place, I invited him frequently 
 to come and spend an hour or so with me, 
 during his period of convalescence. As he 
 accepted my invitation we had many oppor- 
 tunities of conversing together, and on one 
 of these occasions he told me something of his 
 history. I immediately saw, as I thought, 
 the importance of his story, and pressed him 
 to put his adventures upon paper. This he 
 ultimately did, and the following pages are 
 the result. 
 
 My part as editor is soon explained. I 
 have assisted to express the author’s meaning 
 more clearly, by making occasional alterations 
 in the words used, and in the construction of 
 his sentences. Generally, however, I found 
 his style clear, and perfectly intelligible, so 
 that my labour in this respect was very slight. 
 
 A few notes have also been appended. 
 
Introduction. 
 
 V 
 
 where they have seemed to me to be required. 
 As the author had several sketches of the 
 scenery of New Guinea in his possession, 1 
 obtained his permission to have these copied. 
 They are published with the narrative, and 
 will help to elucidate the narrative itself. 
 In reference to these sketches I must explain, 
 first, that the originals were roughly done ; 
 they were evidently the work of a self-taught 
 man ; and that they were more or less 
 defaced, as they had been in his possession 
 for a long time ; and, lastly, that I obtained 
 the assistance of my friend Mr. Hull in pre- 
 paring them for publication, and his artistic 
 skill has been brought to bear upon them. 
 Tregance has also in his possession a sketch 
 of Lamlam. And although he was unwilling 
 that this should be copied, yet he has allowed 
 me to describe the face and expression which 
 were represented in that portrait. An oval 
 face, olive-coloured — with large, lustrous, 
 sad-looking eyes — nose of the Grecian type 
 — hair straight and black, but not long. 
 Such were the principal features of the 
 portrait of Lamlam. The expression w'as 
 pleasing, but melancholy. These remarks 
 will not, I hope, be without interest to those 
 v^ho read the chapters referring to the person 
 who is thus described. 
 
VI 
 
 Introduchon. 
 
 As the true character of the book is evident 
 to the careful reader, it is unnecessary that 
 more should be said by way of introduction 
 to it. 
 
 Henry Crocker. 
 
 St. Ann’s Paesonage, 
 
 Weeemai N.Z. 
 
PEERAGE. 
 
 The clergyman who has been kind enough to 
 revise this narrative of my adventures in New 
 Guinea, has explained how it came to be 
 given to the world. I have, therefore, only 
 to say, that what I have selected from my 
 notes and recollections of the kingdom of 
 K’ootar is but a small portion of the whole ; 
 yet it contains, probably, the most striking 
 and interesting facts which came under my 
 knowledge. There are some subjects on 
 which I am not able to speak with that infor- 
 mation which could make my words of real 
 value — as, for instance, the nature of the 
 trees and flowers of the country — the various 
 kinds of animals which are found in New 
 Guinea — at best I can only describe, and that 
 very imperfectly, such things as came under 
 my own observation. Of those things, there- 
 fore, I have said but little. Of the habits, 
 customs, and beliefs of the people, I can 
 speak more fully, as it did not require more 
 
Preface, 
 
 viii 
 
 than the possession of average intelligence to 
 enable me to understand what I saw and 
 heard during my nine years’ residence among 
 the Orangwoks. Any further information 
 that lies in my power to give will be given 
 with pleasure to those who seek it. 
 
 Lodis Te^qancb. 
 
 Ship “Newcastle,” 
 
 Septemher, 1875. 
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS. 
 
 Punishment of Criminals . 
 The Wild Sea . 
 
 The Capture . . . 
 
 Map op New Guinea . 
 
 The Teul . 
 
 Frontispiece 
 To face 44 
 
 66 
 
 „ 128 
 
 « 219 
 
 IS 
 
ADVENTURES IN NEW GUINEA. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 I WAS born in the Province of Maine, in a 
 little village on its southern border, and until 
 I was nearly twelve years old I knew very 
 little of the world outside my native village. 
 Before I was seven years old my father taught 
 me to read, and this was all the schooling I 
 got until I left home, for my father died when 
 I reached the age of seven. He was a good 
 man, I am sure, for I can remember many of 
 the lessons he gave me about Grod and Christ, 
 and how he taught me always to do what I 
 knew to be right, without fearing man. 
 
 He did not fear the cure as much as my 
 mother did ; indeed he did not fear him at 
 all, for he always spoke his opinions freely in 
 the cure’s presence, and was not afraid to 
 argue with him. My mother, on the con- 
 trary, was always afraid of the priest, and 
 would scold my father, when they were alone, 
 for not showing greater reverence to the 
 
 n 
 
2 
 
 Advenhtres in New Gitinea. 
 
 priest of God. At this my father would 
 laugh, and reply, “ Do you think, wife, that 
 the great and good God would give to such 
 men as our priests the power to bless or curse 
 His creatures ? Depend upon it, God loves 
 His creatures too well to leave them in the 
 hands of any deputy. The Emperor appoints 
 officers to take the oversight of his empire, 
 because he cannot overlook everything him- 
 self; and see what mismanagement arises 
 through the negligence of his officers. But 
 God, who is everywhere, requires no deputies 
 to act for Him. The cure is a good man, 
 and as such I respect him, yet he has no 
 power either to bless or curse God’s people.” 
 
 This was a long speech for my father to 
 make, but I remember it, for he often said the 
 same thing to me while he was teaching me. 
 
 It was a great loss as well as a great 
 sorrow to me when my dear father died. 
 
 We had always been poor, even when he 
 lived, and after his death we were poorer 
 than ever ; so now I got no more teaching, 
 for I was required to spend all my time in 
 assisting my mother in various ways. 
 
 I learnt the Paternoster and the Credo 
 from the cure, and this was all I knew of 
 religion, except what my father had taught 
 me. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 3 
 
 During all tlie week I was kept at work, 
 and had little time for play; but when 
 Sunday came, after prayers and sermon from 
 the cure, we all assembled in the open park 
 for our games, and then I played until I was 
 tired out, after which I slept soundly till 
 Monday came again. 
 
 Although there were many hardships in 
 that early part of my life, for food was scarce 
 at times, and the winters were trying with 
 such poor clothes as we wore, yet I was 
 happy, and 1 look back to those early years 
 with feelings of regret. 
 
 When I was about ten years old, I re- 
 member going to another village with Philip 
 Rigaud, who was two years older than my- 
 self. My mother had given me a holiday, for 
 she was also dressed for one, although she 
 did not come with us. 
 
 She told me to take a long day, and gave 
 me plenty of food to take with me. So 
 Philip and I sauntered along the high road 
 very happy, for we were fast friends. Philip 
 told me stories about the sea, and I asked 
 him what the sea was like. 
 
 “Dost thou not know, Louis?” (My 
 name is Louis Tregance.) 
 
 “ No, how can I, Philip ? I have never 
 been away from our little village.” 
 
4 Adventzires in New Guinea. 
 
 “But did not thy father teach thee ? ” 
 
 Then seeing that he had awakened in me 
 a painful memory, he said, — 
 
 “Come, Louis, I will take thee to a place 
 where thou shalt see the great ocean, and I 
 will tell thee all that I know about it. And 
 then we will go to Blanc, the old gardener, 
 who has travelled on the sea, and he will tell 
 us stories about his adventures when he was 
 a sailor.” 
 
 About seven miles from our village there 
 was a high hill, so high that none of us 
 children ever cared to climb it, and from the 
 top of this hill Philip said the ocean could be 
 seen. So, excited by the words of Philip, I 
 consented to join him in climbing to its top, 
 that we might catch a glimpse of the new 
 world where men lived in houses that moved 
 along driven by the wind, without breaking 
 up, and that carried tliem to new places 
 every day, so that they never saw the same 
 place two days together. After several hours’ 
 hard walking, broken by intervals of resting, 
 we reached a high peak of the hill. So eager 
 was I to see this new world of which Philip 
 had told me, that I rushed up the last slope 
 of the ascent, breathless though I was from 
 our long journey, and looked eagerly around. 
 I could see nothing but hills, plains, and 
 
Adventures in New Gttinea. 
 
 5 
 
 houses, (I had never imagined them to be so 
 numerous,) and a dull, leaden-looking cloud 
 beyond them all. 
 
 “Alas ! Philip,” I cried to him, “ it is not 
 here — the ocean of which you spoke.” 
 
 “ See, my friend,” he replied, pointing to 
 the dull leaden clouds, “ see. that is the ocean, 
 look,” and, following the direction of his 
 hand, I gazed intently, and saw a speck of 
 white moving. “ Is that a bird ? ” I asked. 
 
 “No, that is a ship; she is moving across 
 the water that you see so far away.” And 
 now I could perceive that that which I had 
 mistaken for a cloud was unlike one — that it 
 was a broad plain, and that a ship was 
 moving across it. As I looked, the sun, which 
 had been hidden since we had been standing 
 here, came out, and then a sheet of light il- 
 luminated the ship’s pathway, which became 
 like burnished gold. 
 
 “ See, Philip, how beautiful ! ” I exclaimed, 
 in an ecstasy of delight. My companion was 
 charmed with my enthusiasm, for the sight 
 was commonplace to him. He had lived near 
 the sea before coming to our village. 
 
 This day was an eventful one to me ; for 
 on my return home, very late and very tired, 
 I found M. Cobot, one of the villagers that I 
 had never liked, at home with my mother. 
 
6 
 
 Adventures in New Gtiinea. 
 
 He had often been to our house lately, and I 
 had not liked him any the more on. that 
 account. To-night he was sitting before the 
 fire when I entered the room, and my mother 
 was standing by his side, his arm was round 
 her waist, and she appeared as if she had just 
 risen from his knee. She at once came to 
 me, and, kissing me, said, “ Come, mon fils, 
 let me present thee to thy new father, M. 
 Cobot.” I could not believe I had heard 
 aright; I was filled with indignation, and, 
 regardless of consequences, replied, “ He is 
 not my father; my father is in the grave, 
 and I wish I was with him.” On hearing 
 this speech, which was a very rude one (and 
 I can only excuse it by saying I was very 
 tired), my poor mother burst into tears, and 
 my step-father (for he was married to my 
 mother), rising from his seat, spoke severely 
 to me, threatening me for my conduct to my 
 mother. This recalled me to myself, and, 
 after kissing my mother and apologizing to 
 my step-father, I shrank away to my room. 
 Of course this was a bad beginning, and did 
 not incline M. Cobot to look upon me with 
 favour. 
 
 Next morning, before anybody was stirring, 
 I got up and walked to the cemetery. I had 
 been accustomed to go there with my mother 
 
Advenhires in New Guinea. 7 
 
 in the happy days that were gone, to look at 
 the neat little grave of my father, to arrange 
 the wooden cross at its head, and to lay a few 
 flowers on the green turf. When I reached 
 there my heart was full of . sorrow, and, 
 throwing myself on the cold grave, I spoke 
 to my father and told him all the trouble 
 that was in his child’s heart. In a little 
 while I felt calmer, and was able to return 
 home in a more contented mood. Yet I re- 
 solved I would never call M. Cob6t father. 
 The day passed off well enough, for my step- 
 father never took any notice of me after the 
 first morning salutation. Had he always 
 acted in this way all would have been well, 
 and I should have spent all my days in France, 
 instead of wandering in strange lands ; but 
 he conceived as violent a dislike to me as I 
 had taken to him, and treated me very cruelly 
 at times in spite of my mother’s entreaties 
 on my behalf. Two years were spent in this 
 way, and in secret intercourse with Philip 
 and Blanc the gardener, who fired our boyish 
 imaginations with stories of the sea and 
 foreign countries where he had travelled. 
 Philip and I had a thought in our hearts 
 which gradually grew into action. We talked 
 it over between ourselves until we came to 
 think it entirely practicable. We resolved to 
 
8 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 leave tlie village, to travel to a sea-port, and 
 become sailors. This idea expanded itself in 
 our imaginations until we could no longer 
 free ourselves from its fascination. After a 
 fresh instance of M. Oobdt’s cruelty I arranged 
 with Philip that we would leave on a certain 
 morning very early. This was in the autumn, 
 and then I went home to make preparations 
 for running away. Ah, how sorry I felt 
 when I saw my poor mother’s pale face and 
 knew I should leave her behind me ! I wound 
 my arms round her and kissed her. This 
 unwonted instance of affection surprised her, 
 but she took me into her arms, and, sitting 
 down, talked to me. 
 
 “Louis, I wish thou wouldst try to love 
 M. Cobdt for my sake. He will then be kind 
 to thee, poor child ! ” 
 
 My tears fell fast as I sobbed out my reply. 
 “ I will always think of him kindly for your 
 sake, ma mere ; but I cannot give him the 
 love which belongs to my own father.” 
 
 She sighed as I kissed her again and asked 
 her forgiveness for all my acts of naughtiness. 
 During the evening M. Oobot was kinder to 
 me than usual, and my mother took many 
 opportunities of expressing her love for me. 
 Such kindness well-nigh took away all my 
 resolve to leave home. Yet I made my 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. g 
 
 preparations, which, were soon made, and got 
 to my room at an earlier hour than usual, 
 after kissing my mother with great affection. 
 My excitement kept me awake for a long 
 time, so that I heard my mother preparing 
 for her bed. She came to m,e before she went, 
 and, turning down the bed-clothes, as she was 
 wont to do, looked at me and kissed me again. 
 I threw my arms round her and returned her 
 embrace. “ Giood night, Louis, the good 
 God keep thee ! ” and so she left me. Again 
 my resolution faltered, and I had nearly given 
 up all idea of running off, when a gentle tap 
 came at my window. This was the signal 
 agreed upon between Philip and myself. At 
 once I sprang up, and, dressing myself 
 quietly, was soon in the presence of my com- 
 rade. “ Courage, mon ami,” said Philip. 
 “ Soon we shall be on the great ocean and 
 shall return laden with wealth. Courage ! ” 
 And indeed I needed some strengthening at 
 this moment, for the memory of all my 
 mother’s love and of M. Cobdt’s new kindness 
 was upon me. We had decided to keep the 
 high road until daylight, when we were to 
 turn off into the by-ways and strike across 
 the country. We hoped in this way to avoid 
 any hue and cry that might be raised, and so 
 pursue our course to the sea unmolested. 
 
lO 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 We walked steadily along the main road for 
 about four hour’s, and made good progress. 
 At sunrise we halted and made a hearty 
 breakfast out of our small stock of food. As 
 the sun was well up in the heavens before we 
 had rested ourselves sufficiently, on resuming 
 our journey we decided to turn off the main 
 road at once. This we did, taking our route 
 across fields and meadows. If there was any 
 pursuit of us, we thus avoided our pursuers. 
 
 It is not necessary that I should relate all 
 the incidents of those wearisome days. 
 Suffice it to say that we often wished our- 
 selves home again, for we were frequently 
 hungry and weary, and always in fear, either 
 of falling into the hands of the officer of 
 police, or of those of our pursuers, and so 
 being carried back ignominiously to our 
 homes. As we were frequently without food, 
 for our little stock lasted us barely two days, 
 and we had to depend upon the charity of the 
 people of the country through which we were 
 passing, and always had to lie out at night, 
 our hardships began to tell upon us, and we 
 became gaunt and emaciated in appearance. 
 Still we kept up under the hope that some 
 day we should be at our destination — the 
 nearest sea-port — and then should realize 
 our long-cherished hope. So we toiled on 
 
Advenmres in New Guinea. 1 1 
 
 until, on the tenth day, when all heart was 
 passing from us, Philip suddenly exclaimed, 
 “ See, Louis, there is the ocean ! ” And, 
 indeed, there it was straight before us. We 
 had just turned the point of a hill which ran 
 into the road. There lay the ocean, quite 
 close, not more than two or three miles from 
 us. I could see the huge waves, wrapped in 
 their white foam, rolling upon the shore. 
 And now I could understand the noise which 
 had been filling my ears for a long time. It 
 was the roll of the surf upon the beach, and 
 soon we saw the masts of ships, like a forest, 
 and as I carried my eye along, houses, 
 churches, and public buildings, such as I had 
 never seen before, came into view. 
 
 “ This is our destination,” said Philip. 
 “ Let us hasten.” In about an hour we 
 entered the town. The streets were filled 
 with people, but nobody took any notice of 
 us. We were ashamed of our poor clothing 
 and miserable appearance. But we attracted 
 no notice from the lazy people who thronged 
 the streets. We pressed on, feeling very 
 hungry and sick, for we had been more than 
 twenty-four hours without food. 
 
 “ Philip,” I said, “ I must have something 
 to eat ; I am sick.” 
 
 “ Stay, mon ami, I will get you food ; 
 
!2 
 
 Adventures in New Gtnnea. 
 
 courage, my little companion and, leaving 
 me near a baker’s shop, Philip darted ofP, and 
 began to address himself to the passers-by. 
 At times he pointed to me, and one of the 
 persons addressed by him, putting his hand 
 in his pocket, gave him something. My 
 comrade rushed back to me, and, holding up 
 a franc piece, said, — 
 
 “ Courage, Louis, we shall have food.” 
 
 After satisfying our hunger, we again 
 pushed on until we reached the harbour. At 
 last we ■ stood upon the wharf and looked 
 upon the vast ships, whose sides rose many 
 feet above the level of the planks on which 
 we stood. In order to reach their decks v/e 
 should have had to climb up a ladder, and we 
 had not the courage to do this ; so we con- 
 tinued walking along until we came to a vessel 
 whose deck was flush with the wharf. Philip 
 immediately went on board, and after some 
 hesitation I followed him. The man to whom 
 Philip spoke, asking him to take us as cabin- 
 boys, replied, after looking closely- at each of 
 us in turn, — 
 
 “ So, my little men, you want to be sailors, 
 to leave Belle France, to tread over the wide 
 world ? Well, as I happen to want two little 
 men, and you are likely boys, I will take you 
 in my ship, the Ville du Havre. So come 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 13 
 
 aboard and enter your names on the ship’s 
 books,” he said, with a smile. 
 
 Surprised and overjoyed at this unexpected 
 answer to our first application, we hurried to 
 obey the direction of the man, who turned 
 out to be the first mate. After some inquiry 
 as to our names, ages, and place of residence, 
 we were sent below to dinner, which was, we 
 thought, like the dinner of a king. 
 
 The result of our application was that we 
 were accepted as apprentices (although not 
 registered) on board of the Ville dto Havre, 
 sailing next day for Liverpool. Philip and I 
 fell into our bunks that night with feelings 
 of the deepest satisfaction and thankfulness. 
 
14 
 
 Advenlures in New Gtiinea, 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 f 
 
 Thk Ville du Havre, of wbicli the captain 
 and the mate were part-owners, drew out 
 into the Channel early in the morning, and 
 made ready to sail. For some reason Philip 
 and I were kept below until we were well 
 out of the harbour, when we were allowed to 
 go on deck and expected to m.ake ourselves 
 useful. As soon as we met the fresh breeze 
 the ship began to dance and roll, creating 
 strange sensations in us. This was the terrible 
 mal de mer, of which one never hears enough, 
 and never thinks enough, until one has ex- 
 perienced it oneself, I cannot say how I 
 felt, except that I felt sick, and yet I was 
 not sick. My head began to ache, my brain 
 began to reel as if I would fall, and I did not 
 care to stand upright. 
 
 “ Oh, Philip ! ” I said, “ this is dreadful ! 
 What is the matter with us ? ” For he was 
 as pale as one dead. 
 
 “ This is sea-sickness, Louis. It will soon 
 be over. Keep a brave heart, my friend.” 
 
 The kind mate came to us, and told us to 
 
Adventures in New Gtiinea. 15 
 
 lie down for a little while, which we gladly 
 did. As the wind increased the ship rose 
 and fell as if she was jumping over the 
 waves, and then I felt as if the whole of my 
 inside was coming into my mouth. I tried 
 to cry out to Philip, but I vomited the instant 
 I opened my mouth. I continued this 
 vomiting for several minutes, which con- 
 tinued until my mouth filled with some bitter 
 stuff, and after this I felt easier, and lay 
 down. I continued ill for several days, for 
 we had a head wind, and during all this time 
 I wished myself back again with my dear 
 mother and M. Cobdt. I often saw the 
 village, with its little church and the kind 
 cure; the quiet cemetery, where lay my 
 father ; the park, in which the boys and girls 
 assembled to dance; and then my mind 
 wandered back to the fields of rich corn, the 
 thick clustering grapes. I would have given 
 anything for a taste of the ripe grapes at 
 this moment ; and then I felt how foolish I 
 had been to leave the beautiful and quiet 
 earth, to trust myself to the heaving, unstable 
 sea ! I resolved, if ever I got back again to 
 Prance, to content myself with such happiness 
 as she could afford me. 
 
 But trouble cannot last for ever, and so 
 my sickness and nausea came to an end be- 
 
1 6 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 fore we readied Liverpool, which we were 
 seven days in doing. And when I got about 
 on the deck, climbing the masts, and helping' 
 to pull the ropes, I began again to like the 
 idea of being a sailor. Still I was glad when 
 Liverpool was reached, and when we drew 
 up by the side of the long wharf to change 
 our cargo I worked hard to help, for I felt I 
 ought to do all I could for the kind friend 
 who had taken me on board. 
 
 Philip worked better than I did, and was 
 more useful. He was stronger, and began 
 to look fat and be amusing to the men, with 
 whom he was a great favourite. He was, 
 however, always my friend, and ready to help 
 me or to defend me. 
 
 Sometimes he and I were allowed to walk 
 in the strange English city, among the 
 crowds of people, and we were much 
 astonished by all that we saw. One day we 
 walked a long way, until we came to the 
 country, where there were many trees, and 
 crowds of people dressed so well, and rich 
 carriages, and beautiful horses, and there 
 was gay music playing. The men and women, 
 or ladies and gentlemen, as Philip called 
 them, were so happy as they laughed and 
 talked. One young lady looked at us, and 
 I saw a look of pity pass into her face. She 
 
Advenhcres in New Gtiinea. 17 
 
 touclied the arm of the old gentleman Avho 
 was seated near her, and he too glanced at 
 us. I felt ashamed that we were so poor, 
 for our clothes did not fit us ; they had been 
 given to us by the sailors, and had been cut 
 down to our size. The young lady was like 
 an angel, so sweet was her smile of pity. I 
 could have gazed for ever on her face, but 
 Philip drew me away, and soon we began to 
 return on our route to the ship, I feeling 
 very sad to think that I was shut out from all 
 this world that I saw now for the first time. 
 
 We could not understand the people, but 
 sometimes they spoke to us and pointed after 
 us — the baser sort, I mean, the gamins of 
 that great city. Still we took no notice, for 
 we did not understand the words they used, 
 although we knew they were not complimen- 
 tary to Philip and myself. 
 
 I did not get strong, even after the lapse 
 of some weeks, and often had a violent pain 
 in my head. This was a new experience for 
 me, for I had always been a healthy boy 
 when at home. This pain continued for 
 some days, which caused me great sorrow, 
 as I felt I was not doing enousrh work for 
 our kind friend the mate. The ship was 
 nearly full, and was getting ready to sail, 
 this time for America. 
 
 0 
 
1 8 Adventures in New Gidnea. 
 
 One day I had felt worse than ever, and 
 was veiy weak. Philip and I walked in the 
 street not far from the ship, for I could not 
 walk very far, and as we walked I felt a 
 strange sensation come over me, and then I 
 fell to the ground. When I came to myself 
 I was in a large room, very clean and nice- 
 looking, and was lying on a little bed. The 
 large room was full of similar beds, on which 
 were lying sick people. This was a hospital. 
 I did not know this at once, for I could not 
 understand what the nurse said to. me ; and 
 Philip was not with me. Soon a gentleman, 
 well-dressed and quick in his manner, entered 
 the room. This was the doctor. He came 
 at once to my bed. After speaking to the 
 nurse he turned to me and said in my own 
 language, — 
 
 “ Well, my little man, what is the matter 
 with you?” 
 
 I replied by telling him what befell me 
 in the street. 
 
 After examining iny pulse and tongue, he 
 said, — 
 
 “You will not be able to go in your ship 
 this voyage, my boy ; you have a touch of 
 fever upon you, and you must stay where 
 you are for some weeks at least.” 
 
 Soon after this I slept, and when I awoke 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 19 
 
 Philip andtlie mate were by my side. They 
 had seen the doctor, who had told them 
 about my fever, so they said, — “ We shan’t 
 see you for a long time, Louis, as we are 
 going to sail in two days to America. But 
 keep a look out for the Ville du Havre ort 
 ber return, and we will then take you with 
 us.” So we shook hands, Philip kissing me 
 as they went away, I was sorry, yet I was 
 too ill to think much just now. 
 
 Many days passed — some weeks, I think — ■ 
 before I began to get better^ and during all 
 the time I was carefully tended by the doctor 
 and the nurse. When I was getting better 
 there came one day into the room a young 
 lady. She came to visit the sick and to read 
 to them. I thought her face was not strange 
 to me, and when she came to my bed and 
 smiled on me I recognized her again. It 
 was the young lady I had seen in the ceme- 
 tery. She ,^poke to me in English, and on 
 my replying in French that I did not under- 
 stand, she immediately answered me in my 
 own tongue. 
 
 “You have been very ill, my poor boy ! ” 
 she said, laying her hand on my hot 
 head. 
 
 “ Yes, mademoiselle,” I replied ; “ of fever, 
 but I am better now, thank the saints.” 
 c 2 
 
20 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 She looked at me when I said this, very 
 earnestly and pityingly, and said, “I am 
 glad you are thankful that Grod is making 
 you well. It is He who has been so good to 
 you. Try and thank Him in your heart. 
 Would you like me to read to you something 
 about Him ? ” 
 
 “ Yes, yes, mademoiselle ; my father used 
 to tell me about Him before he died. But I 
 have not heard about the good God since 
 that sad event.” 
 
 Without saying more the young lady 
 opened a little book which she carried in her 
 hand and read. It told about Jesus re- 
 ceiving sinners and eating with them, and 
 then about a man losing one sheep in the 
 wilderness, next of the woman who lost a 
 piece of money, and last of the two sons, 
 one of whom went into a far country. This, 
 I thought, was like myself running away 
 from my mother ; and when she read of the 
 good father seeing his son while he was yet 
 a long way off, and being glad at his coming 
 back, I thought of my kind mother watching 
 for me — ready to welcome me home again, 
 and I wept. The kind lady, who had ex- 
 plained all this story to me in French, asked 
 me about my mother, and I told her all my 
 story. After asking me where my mother 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 21 
 
 lived, she took her leave, promising to come 
 and see me again. 
 
 Three days after the young lady came 
 again, bi’inging me a beautifnl book with 
 pictures in it. The book was in French — ■ 
 the “Pilgrim’s Progress” — but, alas! I 
 could not read it, I could only read the little 
 words, so she read some of the story to me, 
 and left the book for me that I might look at 
 the pictures. 
 
 Through all the kindness I received I soon 
 got well, and was able to sit up, and then to 
 get out into the air. The doctor told me I 
 should be able to leave the hospital in a week 
 or two, but that I could not do any heavy 
 work, as I was not strong. On my telling 
 this to the kind lady, she asked me where I 
 thought of going. I said I did not know, 
 but I would inquire so soon as I had left the 
 good hospital. Next time she came the old 
 gentleman her father was with her, and, 
 after questioning me, he said, “ As you are 
 ready to leave the hospital, Louis, I will 
 take you into my service until you are 
 strong, so you can come with me to-day, if 
 you like.” 
 
 I jumped at this kind offer, and expressed 
 my readiness to go with him and the young 
 lady at once. So I was soon, after thanking 
 
22 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 the good doctor and the nurse for their 
 kindness to me, on the box-seat of the 
 gentleman’s carriage. As the gentleman had 
 provided me with a suit of clothes, clean and 
 well-fitting, I did not feel ashamed of my 
 dress, yet I felt ashamed to sit beside the 
 man who drove the carriage. He was so 
 fine, yet he was good to me, although I did 
 not understand his words. 
 
 After I had been at Mr. Cunningham’s for 
 a few weeks, a letter came from my mother 
 in reply to one which Miss Cunningham had 
 written to her. My mother was glad to 
 learn that I had fallen among kind friends, 
 and begged me to communicate with her. 
 
 With the assistance of my mistress, I sent 
 a letter to my mother, asking her pardon and 
 blessing. After the lapse of many weeks 
 another letter came, conveying the forgive- 
 ness whichl sought, and giving me permission 
 to remain where I was. 
 
 I was very happy in the service of Mr. 
 Cunningham, and remained with him four 
 years. During this time I made progress in 
 reading and writing the English language, 
 as well as in speaking it. His daughter, my 
 first kind friend, allowed me to be taken to 
 the English church, where I was charmed by 
 the fact that I could understand every word 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 23 
 
 of the prayers, and could hear the words of 
 the holy God in English (for I had now 
 learned to speak English). I became a Pro- 
 testant, a step which I have never since 
 regretted, for I have thus been taught to de- 
 pend more upon my conscience than upon the 
 minister for guidance, and this self-direction 
 promotes a sense of responsibility which in- 
 duces one to read and think for oneself. 
 The habit of doing so has been most valuable 
 to me in my wandering life, and although I 
 have doubtless fallen into many errors, yet I 
 have also been saved from perpetrating 
 many serious offences which I should have 
 committed had I not learned to interrogate 
 my conscience in respect of all my duties. 
 
 Pour years passed away, and I never saw 
 anything of Philip. For once, when the 
 Ville du Havre came to Liverpool, I was 
 away in the country, whither the family had 
 gone for a change. Great was my disap- 
 pointment when I heard that the ship had 
 been in, and that Philip had been to Mr. 
 Cunningham’s house inquiring for me. He 
 left word that the Ville du Ha,vre was 
 going to Australia, and might not bo back 
 in port for two years. In spite of my great 
 disappointment in missing my old friend, 
 I was very happy in my present service, and 
 
24 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 should have remained there had it not been 
 for a great calamity which befell my master. 
 Miss Harriette, for that was the young lady’s 
 name, was always delicate, and this rendered 
 her susceptible of any sickness that was in- 
 fectious. After I had been the time I have 
 mentioned in her father’s service, she caught 
 an infectious disease, and, in spite of all the 
 efforts of the many skilful medical men who 
 were called in to attend on her, she died. 
 I felt the blow very greatly, the more so as 
 she was not conscious when she died, and 
 had not been so for several days before the 
 sad event, and could not therefore bid us 
 good-bye. Ah ! dearest and best of my 
 earliest friends, I have never ceased to think 
 of thee and to lament thy early death ! For 
 although thou wert exalted far beyond my 
 lowly station, yet thy sympathy, which was 
 as an angel’s, bridged over that gulf which 
 had been otherwise impassable. 
 
 Farewell ! thou art now in the bosom of 
 the Jesus thou didst love, and of whom thou 
 didst speak to thy fallen brother. Farewell, 
 dear Miss Harriette ! 
 
 The death of Miss Harriette led to many 
 changes, for she was an only child, and 
 although I could have remained in the ser- 
 vice of Mr. Cunningham, yet I was now 
 
Adventures in New Gtiinea. 25 
 
 anxious to get away from the scenes which 
 continually reminded me of my late beloved 
 mistress. Again the old longing for a sea 
 life awoke in me, and I read eagerly every 
 book I came across which related to sea-life, 
 and had my imagination fired with the idea 
 of foreign travels. I thought constantly of 
 Philip, and wondered if I should ever meet 
 him again, picturing his surprise and delight 
 if I should meet him in some distant part of 
 the world. 
 
 With such thoughts I often walked upon 
 the wharf and took a deep interest in the 
 shipping. One afternoon, as I was thus em- 
 ployed, I came to a ship which was just 
 being berthed, and I stood by to watch the 
 warping operation. Her stern, with name 
 clear and distinct, came round just where I 
 stood, and I read with surprise and delight 
 the words Ville du Havre. Immediately I 
 went on board, and, walking straight to a 
 fine young man who stood upon the poop, 
 directing the operation, said, “ Philip, my 
 friend.” 
 
 The young man stared for a moment, and 
 then said, “Yoii are mistaken, sir; my 
 name is Pliilip, but you are a stranger to 
 
 ) J 
 
 me. 
 
 “ Philip, mon ami, dost thou not reraem- 
 
26 
 
 Adventures in Neiu Guinea. 
 
 ber Louis?” I exclaimed, speaking to him 
 in French. 
 
 Looking eagerly at me again, he imme- 
 diately replied, embracing me, — 
 
 “ Yes, yes, mon bon Louis ; but ho\v much 
 thou art altered ! Thou art a gentleman, 
 and see,” he said proudly, “ I am the second 
 mate of the Ville du Havre. Come to my 
 cabin, Louis.” 
 
 Need I say that, with my present feelings, 
 sad at the loss of my late dear mistress, 
 and full of cravings for adventures, I 
 shipped on board. Philip’s vessel when she 
 was ready to sail, confident, though I was 
 only a sailor before the mast, yet that Philip 
 would treat me as his old friend, and smooth 
 away, as far as possible, the difference that 
 lay between an officer and a common sailor ? 
 The ship was bound to Australia, where she 
 had been for the last three years, for she was 
 now the property of her captain and first 
 mate, who were their own agents and 
 directors. 
 
Adventures in New Gtdnea. 
 
 27 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 As I CO aid write a good hand I was occa- 
 sionally required to make entries in the log- 
 book. This gave me a taste for the kind of 
 entries which appear in snclr nautical diaries, 
 so I started one on my own account, and 
 have since, witb more or less of intermission, 
 kept up the practice of writing down the 
 principal incidents of my life. A few ex- 
 tracts from my own log-book will show the 
 reader the character of our outward voyage. 
 
 “ Oct. 19. — Left the Bay of Biscay, after 
 tumbling about in it for seven days, during 
 the whole of which. I was very sick, often 
 wishing myself back with good Mr. Cun- 
 ningham. Could not imagine what tempted 
 me to leave the comfort of shore-life for the 
 sea. How, however, that I am getting 
 well, and that we have a bright sun and a 
 clear sky, with a fresh wind abaft, I begin 
 to enjoy the sea. The motion is pleasant, 
 and it amuses me to watch the sea-birds 
 sailing along to outstrip the Ville du 
 Havre.’’ 
 
28 
 
 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 “ Oct. 22. — Still a fair wind. The man at 
 the mast-head sung out early this morning, 
 ‘ Sail ho,’ and, looking to leeward, saw the 
 white sail of a vessel crossing our course. 
 Made her out a barque-rigged ship. In a 
 couple of hours, as she was directly on our 
 course, we hailed her. She proved to be 
 the New Jersey, bound for London.” 
 
 “ Nov. 3. — ^We are now in the tropics, and 
 the weather is insufferable during the day, 
 although it is sometimes pleasanter at night. 
 We lay becalmed for several days, and as 
 there was a large ship in the same condition 
 a few miles off, we obtained the captain’s 
 permission to visit her. She was the Clyde, 
 from Melbourne, homeward bound, with a 
 cargo of wool and gold. Hearing that she 
 was a gold ship, I made inquiries as to where 
 and how the gold was obtained, and learned 
 that there were ‘ diggings ’ in Australia, 
 where men congregated in large numbei’s to 
 gather the precious metal. In the afternoon 
 several of the men had a bathe, one of them 
 swimming a long way from the ship. Shortly 
 after his return to the vessel a large shark 
 was seen to swim roimd her — a narrow 
 escape for the Swede.” 
 
 “Nov. 30. — Nearing the Cape; weather 
 terribly cold, and coming in icy, cutting 
 
Adventures in New Gtiinea. 29 
 
 squalls from the south. Ship pitching and 
 tossing very much — feel sick again.” 
 
 “ Dec. 2. — Yesterday we saw several tall 
 peaks, which Philip told me were icebergs. 
 They glittered when the rays of the sun 
 fell on them once or twice. Cold still con- 
 tinues, and the waves very heavy.” 
 
 Dec. 3. — Last night a heavy sea struck 
 the ship, and tons of water came aboard. I 
 thought she had struck on a reef, for she 
 trembled through every timber. The water 
 poured down the open hatchway and drenched 
 us. On I’eaching the deck, a wild scene pre- 
 sented itself. We were driving along over a 
 stormy sea, which rose and fell fearfully, the 
 ship bobbing up and down like a piece of 
 cork on its surface. Two men were at 
 the wheel, which required all their united 
 strength to direct it. A full moon, occa- 
 sionally hidden by the angry-looking clouds, 
 showed us the state of the sea around us. 
 It was a fearful sight ; yet no one seemed to 
 be afraid, everything went on as calmly as if 
 we had a fair wind. After contemplating 
 the scene for a time, the cold drove me back 
 again to bed, although I did not sleep. To- 
 day the sea has subsided, and we are going 
 under easy canvas.” 
 
 “ Dec. 30. — Philip says we shall soon reach 
 
30 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 Melbourne ; that we have had a quick 
 passage. We have passed several ships to- 
 day. The roadway is thronged with passen- 
 gers, as Philip said, because we are nearing 
 the city. Indeed I hope so. It was quite 
 hot to-day.” 
 
 “ Jan. 5 . — ‘ Land ho ’ early this morning. 
 The captain was anxious to give King’s 
 Island a wide berth, several ships having 
 been lost in that locality lately. We soon 
 gained on the land, which had been seen 
 from the mast-head, and passed it on our 
 starboard. It was a rocky islet. With the 
 help of the glass we saw several seals lying 
 upon it, sunning themselves. We shall be 
 at the ‘ Heads ’ by night, Philip says, and 
 shall lie off until morning.” 
 
 After the entry last quoted we entered the 
 narrow mouth of Hobson’s Bay under the 
 guidance of a pilot, who came off to us in a 
 little schooner, and took charge of the 
 vessel. After entering the “ Heads ” we 
 passed into a large bay, almost an inland sea, 
 for we lost sight of the land again. A few 
 hours, however, brought us in sight of the 
 forest of spars which showed us the direction 
 of the town, for beyond these were Mel- 
 bourne and its suburbs. A berth at the 
 Sandridge Pier was vacant, so we were laid 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 31 
 
 up alongside by two o’clock, glad to find 
 om’selves safe in port. The heat was ter- 
 rible ; the atmosphere like the breath of an 
 oven. Everybody looked done up, and moved 
 about with lazy steps. However, here I was 
 at last, on the other side of the world, sur- 
 prised to find so large and fine a city where, 
 only a few years ago, there was nothing but 
 aboriginal Mia-Mias and kangaroo. 
 
32 
 
 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Before we sailed again, Philip and myself, 
 with another sailor, got permission to go up 
 to the gold-field town, Ballarat. "We went 
 np by train, and arrived about four o’clock in 
 the afternoon. Here we saAV holes hundreds 
 of feet deep, out of which the precious gold 
 was dug. These were quartz mines, and the 
 gold was separated from the stones by heavy 
 stampers, which could be heard beating the 
 stones half a mile off. The gold was after- 
 wards collected by means of quicksilver with, 
 which it was mixed, — being then called 
 Amalgam. The manager of one of the mines 
 showed us several bars of amalgam weighing 
 over three hundred pounds, one half of this 
 being gold; and this was obtained in one 
 week. The place where it was obtained was 
 called Poverty Reef, by way of pleasant 
 satire, I suppose; although one of the men 
 told us that the claim had been worked for 
 years before any gold had been obtained 
 from it. 
 
 After seeing these deep mines, we were 
 
Adventures in New Gziinea. 33 
 
 taken to another gold-field about twelve miles 
 off, and here the holes were not so deep, — not 
 more than twenty feet. Here too the gold was 
 found in the earth, not mixed with the quartz, 
 and it was separated from the earth by being 
 first “ puddled ” in a tub and then rocked in 
 a cradle, while a plentiful supply of water 
 was poured over the soil which was being 
 sifted in the cradle. The fine gold was thus 
 carried into the last compartment mixed with 
 the finest earth. This golden sand, for such it 
 looked, was then put into a dish and mixed with 
 water, shaken carefully until the water, which 
 was continually poured off, had carried every 
 particle of the sand away, and nothing but 
 the yellow gold remained in the bottom of the 
 dish. There was a pound weight of gold in 
 the dish which was shown to us after watch- 
 ing the various operations which I have de- 
 scribed. This was worth about 50Z., and was 
 dug out by three men in less than a week. 
 
 After seeing these things, I often thought 
 I should like to be a digger. 
 
 On our return from the diggings, we found 
 the ship was almost ready to sail. This time 
 she was chartered to the Chinese ports. 
 
 And thus for fully three years, Philip .and 
 I sailed together in the Ville da Havre, 
 visiting all the ports in the southern hemi- 
 
 n 
 
34 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 sphere. At the end of this period he became 
 first mate, as the captain had retired, going 
 home to France to settle, leaving his former 
 first mate in command of his vessel. I too 
 had been promoted, through Philip’s influence, 
 to the poop, and was called third mate, being 
 now twenty years old, and a good sailor, so 
 they were kind enough to say. 
 
 At this time a little difference arose between 
 Philip and myself which caused a separation 
 between us for a time. He knew that I had 
 become a Protestant, yet the fact had never 
 occasioned any difference between us, for the 
 change did not show itself in anything that I 
 did ; sailors have such few opportunities of 
 being religious, and of knowing the difference 
 which religions make among men ! When 
 any minister came on board to speak to us 
 we all listened to him without asking whether 
 he was Protestant or Catholic, and so it was 
 that any change of religion did not affect the 
 friendship of Philip and myself, until the 
 occasion to which I now refer arose. 
 
 We had been lying in Hobson’s Bay for a 
 long time idle, for this was the dull season, 
 and I had been allowed ashore a good deal. 
 On the occasion of one of these holidays I 
 consented to become a mason, and was ad- 
 mitted into the English ConstituUon. On 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 35 
 
 rny going on boai’d again, I told Philip what 
 I had done. He became angry, and said that 
 the Catholic Church had forbidden me to 
 become a mason. 
 
 (Philip was now more attentive to religion 
 than he had formerly been.) 
 
 “ But I do not belong to the Catholic 
 Church, Philip. I am a Protestant, and can 
 do as I like.” 
 
 “ But, Louis,” he cried out angrily, “ you 
 have no right to leave the Church of your 
 fathers, in which you were born and baptized ! 
 Dost thou not remember the little cemetery 
 where thy father sleeps ? Wouldst thou not 
 be laid with him when thou diest ? ” 
 
 “ My father was not a Catholic except in 
 name, and at any rate I am now a Protestant, 
 and intend to live and die in that faith. I am 
 also a mason, and do not care what the priests, 
 who are no better than ourselves, say igno- 
 rantly against the masons. They tell lies 
 about them, I know ; for all masons believe 
 in God, and must believe in Him. Yet the 
 priests say that the masons are atheists.” 
 
 This made Philip more angry, and I do 
 not care to write down all that my friend 
 said to me. 
 
 At last I replied, “I will leave you, Philip ; I 
 will not stay to be spoken to in this manner.” 
 D 2 
 
Adventures in New Gtiinea, 
 
 36 
 
 And so I got ray discharge from the 
 Ville du Havre, and started for the dig- 
 gings. 
 
 Soon after I had arrived at the diggings 
 beyond Ballarat, where we had seen the men 
 washing out the pound of gold, I saw by the 
 papers that the Ville du Havre had sailed 
 for New Caledonia, and would probably go 
 into California before she returned to the 
 Melbourne port. 
 
 At this I felt sad, and wished that I was 
 with my Philip again. 
 
 Yet I would not give up being a mason, 
 but resolved to attend all their meetings, 
 that I might learn as much as I could about 
 their principles. 
 
 The diggings to which I had come were 
 altered for the worse. The gold supply was 
 exhausted, and the diggers looked poor. 
 Many of them were glad to work whole days 
 for a few specks of the bright metal. So I 
 did not stay long in this place, but moved 
 away to a new diggings, where a great many 
 miners were assembling. This place was 
 called a “ rush,” and at first a good deal of 
 gold was obtained by those who were for- 
 tunate enough to get “ claims ” on the 
 “ lead.” But others who were not on the 
 “line of gold” worked to no purpose week 
 
Adventures in New Gtiinea. 37 
 
 after week. It was very tantalizing to 
 see men in the next hole getting gold in 
 great quantities, washing it out of their 
 tubs in pounds, and then to work and 
 drive in your own hole, only a few feet 
 away, and yet get nothing for all your 
 pains. 
 
 At last I gave up digging and went back 
 to Ballarat. Here, after much trouble, I got 
 a situation as groom in a gentleman’s house- 
 hold. And this place I got because I was a 
 maflon, for my master belonged to that order. 
 Here I remained for more than six months. 
 One day I saw by the papers that the Ville 
 du Havre, had arrived under the command 
 of Philip Rigaud. The former captain was 
 ill. How my heart jumped, and I resolved 
 to go and see my old friend again ; for all 
 ihe anger had died out of my heart so soon 
 as I had reached the diggings. I was to stay 
 with my master for another week, and then I 
 could leave. Well, before the week was up I 
 was riding one of my master’s horses in the 
 principal street, when I saw a captain (we 
 sailors can tell a captain by his dress and 
 manner) driving in a cab from the railway 
 station. I looked at him a second time, and 
 saw that it was Philip. I rode alter him and 
 called out. He at once stopped his cab and 
 
38 Adventures in New G2 tinea. 
 
 got down, for lie knew me. “ I was coming 
 to look for thee, Louis,” were the first words 
 he spoke, and regardless of by-standers, he 
 embraced me, for I had jumped off my horse. 
 “My heart has been sore since we parted, 
 Louis, for I was wrong to speak to thee as I 
 did about thy religion. Thou wilt forgive 
 me?” It was my time to ask forgiveness 
 for my hasty temper and hot words. And so 
 we were reconciled. “Thou mayest remain 
 a mason, and I will become one too, so long 
 as I do not lose my friend.” I returned with 
 Philip to the Ville du Havre, and was installed 
 as second mate, for the former second mate 
 had left. 
 
 And now I was happy again, and deter- 
 mined to stick to the sea. It had been 
 resolved to send the Ville du Havre on an 
 adventurous voyage to Wew Guinea, for 
 there ivas at this time much talk about that 
 island. Philip was to command, for the 
 former captain had resolved to settle in 
 Melbourne, and I was to go as second mate. 
 We were ail in high spirits at the prospect 
 of our voyage, for although there was some 
 amount of danger, yet only enough to make 
 our voyage adventui’ous, and we knew that 
 we should have opportunities of making much 
 money in trading with the natives. At the 
 
Advenhtres in New Guinea. 39 
 
 same time our pay was increased by the 
 owners of the vessel, who did not forbid 
 our taking little fancy things for trading 
 purposes. 
 
40 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea, 
 
 CHAPTER 7. 
 
 As the step I was now taking was so iuii of 
 strange consequences to myself, I like to 
 dwell upon every event connected with it. 
 I had, while Miss Cunningham lived, written 
 to my mother very frequently, and had heard 
 occasionally from her. But since my life in 
 the southern world I had failed to write to 
 her more than a few letters. It had been 
 my custom, which I owed to the influence 
 of my mistress, to send a few pounds every 
 year to my mother. I had even done this 
 since leaving Europe, and now that I was 
 embarking upon what I could not help feel- 
 ing was a perilous voyage, I wrote to my 
 mother a long letter, telling her where I was 
 going, and enclosing her hi. In common 
 with the other sailors, I took with me some 
 rolls of bright-coloured stuffs, some tobacco 
 and pipes, bright pieces of metal, some 
 whistles, and other fancy things (including 
 even dolls) which I thought would be useful 
 in bartering with the savages. I took also 
 
Adventm'es in New Gtcinea. 41 
 
 some picture-books, among which was the 
 “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” given me years ago 
 by Miss Cunningham. 
 
 Late in the month of March we cleared 
 the “ Heads ” on our adventurous expedition. 
 As it was our intention to round South-East 
 Cape, thinking we might open out a trade 
 with the inhabitants of the Archipelago with 
 greater safety than with those of the main- 
 land, we hugged the Australian coast until 
 we reached Morton Bay. We then ran due 
 north for several days, but had baffling 
 winds. The barometer began to fall rapidly; 
 a change in the weather was evident. At 
 first we thought we had escaped the equi- 
 noctial gales; but the falling of the barometer 
 warned us that we had not done so. As we 
 had still nearly six hundred miles to run, and 
 were anxious not to lose time, we kept on 
 under light canvas all the night following; 
 but maintained a smart look-out. Next day 
 the storm broke upon us, and compelled us 
 to lay-to, after trying to run with close-reefed 
 topsails. This storm tried us severely, heavy 
 masses of water came tumbling on board, 
 s^yeeping the decks fore and aft, and carry- 
 ing off our live stock. During the day wo 
 were exceedingly anxious, and as night 
 approached our anxiety increased ; for the 
 
42 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 violence of the wind was so great that we 
 were perfectly helpless, lying like a log upon 
 the water, which continued to make breaches 
 over us. We all wished earnestly for the 
 day, and when the light came the wind began 
 to subside, so that we were now in hopes of 
 our being able to weather the storm. Before 
 night the water had become comparatively 
 calm, and we began to overhaul our ship, 
 which presented a pitiable sight. The bul- 
 warks were smashed, the stanchions of the 
 main cabin wrenched, and the captain’s cabin 
 broken up. The good old ship had borne up 
 well, but she had received a severe handling. 
 Another such storm would finish her. It 
 was now debated whether we should return 
 to Morton Bay and repair, or whether we 
 should continue on our voyage after giving 
 the vessel a slight overhaul with such ap- 
 pliances as we had. We determined on the 
 latter course, as we were only five hundred 
 miles from South-East Cape, and were all 
 enthusiastic about our destination. I think 
 now it Avould have been better if we had 
 returned, but at that time I was — like the 
 others — too eager to reach New Guinea to 
 allow of the whisperings of common sense. 
 
 So all hands set to work vigorously, and 
 in a couple of days the Ville du Havre 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 43 
 
 looked like herself again. On the fourth day 
 we were under sail for the Archipelago, all 
 sanguine and hopeful. I forgot to say that 
 one of our three boats had been smashed and 
 carried away in the storm. Yet the two that 
 remained were but little injured, and were 
 soon repaired. Our glass warned us that the 
 weather was still unsettled. 
 
 In three days we sighted a high range of 
 mountains, which we made out to be the 
 Owen- Stanley Mountains, running north and 
 south from South-East Cape. This showed 
 us that we were too much to the west to 
 reach the Archipelago on the eastern side of 
 the island, so we corrected our bearings, and 
 made ourselves snug for the night. The 
 weather looked dirty, and the glass began to 
 fall rapidly ; as the wind was from the south, 
 and we had plenty of sea-room, and could, 
 with such a wind, make a good offing at any 
 time, we kept on our course under light can- 
 vas, expecting by morning to be within twenty 
 miles of the Cape. The wind increased to a 
 gale and blew all night Avithout intermission. 
 When morning broke there was a heavy sea 
 on, the wind still rising. We were, more- 
 over, close upon several of the islets of the 
 Archipelago. This determined us to get 
 away from the coast, so we put the helm up, 
 
41 - Adventures in New Gttinea. 
 
 and, turning our head east-north-east, stood 
 away. We had not held on our new course 
 more than an hour when the wind died away, 
 only to begin again with renewed ^dolence 
 from the sou’-sou’-west. We were in a posi- 
 tion of extreme danger, for the Ville dw 
 Havre had been greatly shaken by the 
 former gale; her masts, we now found, had 
 yielded to the severe strains Avhich had been 
 put on them, so we kept beating off and on 
 all the day ; but we could not get clear of 
 the coast, the hurricane was too violent, I 
 watched Philip’s anxious face, and knew that 
 our case was desperate iinless the wind should 
 change. Night fell, but no change came, and 
 I now felt that our position was hopeless, for 
 we were drifting shoreward, and had been so 
 drifting during the day. We could see, 
 before night fell in upon us, broken water 
 not more than two or three miles from us. 
 When the day closed I do not think there 
 was a single man who expected to see the 
 light of another day. Still we took some 
 refreshment and stood to our posts, not 
 knowing what chances might arise on our 
 behalf. The dark waves rolled in upon the 
 ship, washing our decks clean, and driving 
 us all to shelter from the pitiless cold. The 
 wind howled and whistled through the rig- 
 
The wild sea. 
 
 Page 44, 
 

 
 ■■■ 
 
 
Adveniiircs in New Gnnnea. 45 
 
 ging, tlie ship creaked, and groaned like a 
 wounded creature, and trembled under the 
 blows dealt by the heavy waves, I had never 
 experienced such a storm. At this time the 
 awful cry, so terrible to a sailor’s ears, arose 
 above the din of the elements, “ Breakers on 
 the port-bow ! ” We were driving helplessly 
 on to the rocks, which were ready to engulf 
 us. To think of anchoring was useless ; yet, 
 as a last resource, we determined to try our 
 anchors. Just as we were making ready, the 
 wind began to lull ; there was evidently and 
 markedly a change. Philip now resolved to 
 wear the ship, and gave orders to bring her 
 about. We all sprang to our posts Avith 
 renewed hope in our breasts. The sliip, 
 slowly answering to her helm, came round. 
 It was a perilous undertaking, for we could 
 see, even in the darkness, the white surf 
 seething and rushing over the hidden reef. 
 We had passed the point of danger, and 
 began to breathe more freely, and to con- 
 gratulate ourselves on our narrow escape, 
 when a terrible shock sent the masts over 
 the starboard, killing the first mate, and 
 casting us all sprawling upon the deck. She 
 had struck on another reef, and was fast 
 embedded on the rock. Now a wild scene 
 began. The boats were safe and ready for 
 
46 Adventures m New Gtnnea. 
 
 use. Laving a supply of food in them. As 
 the sea was sweeping over the Ville cliv 
 Havre threatening to swallow her up every 
 moment, Philip resolved to launch the boats 
 at once. The wind was certainly moderating, 
 yet the sea was running mountains high. It 
 required all the skill of our most experienced 
 seamen, exercised under Philip’s guidance, to 
 launch our boats safely ; yet this was accom- 
 plished, and they rode nobly on the wild water. 
 As it was impossible that the ship could hold, 
 together for long, no time was lost in trans- 
 ferring the crew to the little boats, which 
 rode so bravely on the water. They looked 
 so small, and yet they were safer than the 
 great ship, which thumped heavily every now 
 and then on the rocks. Philip came, and, 
 embracing me, said, “ Farewell, Louis, my 
 companion and. friend; may the good God 
 keep thee in safety. We may never meet 
 again in this world, for I must command the 
 one and thou the other boat. I wish thou 
 couldst come with me, but duty separates us, 
 my friend. Farewell;” and, kissing each 
 other, we parted. 
 
 Philip’s men were impatient, for they were 
 ready to cast off, and as he lowered himself 
 into the boat they cast off, the rope and were 
 swept by the returning wave fully thirty feet 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 47 
 
 from the ship. At the same instant a huge 
 wave, all muffled in foam, came roaring and 
 tumbling, and broke over the ship. We held 
 on for dear life. When the water cleared 
 Philip’s boat was gone ; swallowed up by the 
 devouring sea. Our boat, too, was swept 
 away; we were left to the mercy of the 
 crazy hull which alone stood between us and 
 death. 
 
 Alas, Philip, companion of my youth, and 
 friend of my manhood ! Alas, for thee ! I 
 shall see thee not again. My heart is sad, 
 and my tears flow for thee. Soon shall I be 
 with thee. 
 
 Such were my thoughts as I stood upon 
 the groaning deck of the Villa du Havre. 
 
 The wind continued to fall rapidly. The 
 ship, too, remained in her position. We 
 might be safe till day broke. So at least we 
 hoped. Five of us thus waited anxiously for 
 the light of the day, and, as the sea subsided, 
 began to wait hopefully. After all, we might 
 escape. We certainly encouraged one another 
 with the hope of escaping the fate of our 
 companions. 
 
Advenhii'es in New Guinea. 
 
 dS 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The sun rose brilliantly over a heaving ocean. 
 Although the wind was down, vet the sea 
 still heaved and swelled, and its waves rolled 
 in upon the shore with a deafening sound. 
 The white spray almost hid the shore from 
 our view, which was about one mile distant. 
 A small island lay some half-mile nearer to 
 ns, and it was from this elevation that the 
 sunken rocks on which we had struck sprang. 
 As the ship, although at present giving us 
 good support, was evidently breaking up, we 
 who remained at once began to make prepa- 
 rations for constructing a raft. About mid- 
 day we were ready, and were busy lading our 
 raft with various necessaries, when there 
 came upon us suddenly several canoes full of 
 savages, and before we could offer any re- 
 sistance a score of them, armed with spears, 
 clubs, bows, and arrows, were on board. 
 We thought it better to surrender at dis- 
 cretion, and were, on doing so, transferred 
 to the canoe of one who seemed to be a chief 
 
Adventures in New Gtcinea. 49 
 
 —a tall, black-looking negro, with hair like 
 a mop all over his head. He was a most 
 repulsive-looking savage. After ransacking 
 the ship, they took the raft in tow and made 
 for the shore. Other canoes were to be seen 
 coming on rapidly, their crews shouting and 
 gesticulating like maniacs. When they saw 
 the five white men in their chief’s canoe their 
 astonishment was unbounded. Our party 
 kept away to the north-west, and so avoided 
 the high cliffs which we had seen from the 
 ship. In about half an hour the chief’s b,oat 
 approached the mouth of a small bay which 
 discovered itself suddenly. As we turned 
 into this bay, I well remember how the scene 
 which rose before us awakened within me, 
 even in my present condition, feelings of 
 admiration. The bay upon the south was 
 sheltered by high hills, wdiich sloped down to 
 the Avater and were clothed thickly with 
 timber. The western side of the bay rose 
 gently, and spread inland in a succession of 
 terraces. To the north the same characteristic 
 w'as observable, and as the country was less 
 thickly timbered in this direction, I could see 
 herds of wild beasts seeking their food in the 
 forests. The smoke arose from many places 
 into the clear atmosphere. The bay itself 
 was placid as a mill-pond, and shone like a 
 
50 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 mirroi* under the light of the sun, which was 
 very hot. As we drew near to the shore, 
 crowds of natives, entirely naked, ran along 
 the beach, ready to help us to land and un- 
 load. The reader may be sure that we were 
 in a state of great anxiety as to our fate, and 
 sought to divine it from the faces of those 
 around us. We had heard diverse accounts 
 of the inhabitants of this island ; some said 
 that they were a warlike people, but capable 
 of great generosity ; others that they were 
 unmitigated savages, even cannibals. With 
 the last thought in our minds, we scanned 
 every indication with deepest interest. Of 
 course we could not know the meaning of a 
 word that was said to us, yet we made our 
 captors understand that we were hungry, at 
 which some food was given us — yams, dates, 
 and some flesh, I do not know of what kind. 
 As the canoes were coming and going between 
 the ship and the bay all the remainder of the 
 day, we were handed over to the care of the 
 women and older men, who kept guard over 
 us and exercised their curiosity to an un- 
 limited extent at our expense. The natives 
 displayed great shrewdness in their attacks 
 upon the ship’s cargo, for they worked in- 
 cessantly, knowing that at any moment she 
 might disappear; and as a fact I learned 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 51 
 
 afterwards, towards evening, when her balance 
 had been disturbed bj the shifting of the 
 cargo, she suddenly careened over, and, 
 slipping off the reef, sank in deep water, so 
 that not a vestige of her could be seen. So 
 suddenly had this occurred, that no warning 
 was given to the numerous savages at work 
 in her hold, many of whom were carried 
 down in the Ville du Havre. A good 
 many of these scrambled out of their watery 
 prison, and, floating to the top like corks, 
 were hauled on board the canoes of their 
 astonished companions. Several, however, 
 were drowned in the hold of the ship. I did 
 not learn this for some months after it all 
 occurred. 
 
 When night came, we were carefully con- 
 fined in an empty house, consisting of two 
 storeys, and built very neatly of wood, our 
 hands and feet being tied to prevent us 
 making our escape ; and so we passed a 
 miserable night, not knowing what would 
 befall us in the morning. At sunrise several 
 of our captors, who had slept on the 
 ground floor (we were on the second floor), 
 came up to see if we were safe. We made 
 signs to them that the rope, formed from the 
 bark of a tree, hurt us, and made them under- 
 stand that we wished to be free. In a little 
 B 2 
 
52 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 wliile, tlie chief who had captured us was 
 brought, and, on his giving directions to his 
 men, our bonds w''ere cut and we were set 
 free. Some breakfast was brought, and we 
 were encouraged to eat heartily. Our food 
 consisted of fish and yams, with a pleasant 
 drink, made, I afterwards learnt, from the 
 leaves of a tall tree. Its taste was pungent 
 and appetizing. In a little while we slept 
 again, for some opiate had been put into our 
 beverage to bring about this result. On our 
 recovering consciousness, the sun was in the 
 mid-heavens, and we were in a large paddock 
 (I cannot call it by any other name), perfectly 
 naked. We had been robbed of every vestige 
 of clothing. A numerous crowd of savages, 
 men, women, and children, surrounded the 
 palisading, expressing by their gestures the 
 astonishment, admiration, or dislike which 
 affected the different members of the crowd. 
 When it was seen that we were awake, some 
 more food was brought to us, and although 
 we did not then care to eat, yet before the 
 day closed we were glad enough to satisfy 
 the sharp cravings of hunger. At night we 
 were allowed to shelter ourselves in one of 
 the recesses of the yard, where a plentiful 
 supply of rushes was thrown to us, just as if 
 we were so many pigs. This treatment con- 
 
Adventures in New Gtanect. 
 
 oo 
 
 tinned for about a week, and every day a 
 crowd of idlers gathered about our prison to 
 amuse themselves at our expense. They 
 seemed to be highly amazed by our colour 
 and general appearance, and tried to enter 
 into conversation with us. This enabled us 
 to learn a few words of their language. On 
 our pointing to the sun, and showing that 
 we would know its name, they turned their 
 heads away, and putting up their hands in 
 deprecation, said, “ Otaroo.” This, I after- 
 wards learned, was living one, or great king, 
 emphatically the living one. 
 
 As we were not molested in any other way 
 than the manner which I have described, we 
 began to feel at our ease, and to accept our 
 position with cheerfulness. We ate heartily, 
 and dismissed all concern from our minds. 
 When our captors saw this they were evidently 
 pleased, for they brought us a plentiful supply 
 of food and gave us plenty of eu to drink. 
 This, as I have said, was very appetizing, 
 and we always ate heartily after drinking 
 it. 
 
 At the end of a week we noticed that there 
 were great shoutings every few hours, and, 
 consequent upon these noises, a large increase 
 to the crowd of watchers. This night a great 
 noise of drums was kept up, and as soon as 
 
54 Adventu7'es in New Guinea. 
 
 the day broke and the light streamed in upon 
 our faces we found ourselves again tied hand 
 and foot, and a guard of savages about us. 
 They were all well armed, and had sharp flint 
 knives. I did not like the look of our captors, 
 and cried out to my fellow-prisoners that we 
 Avere all dead men. They carried us with tlie 
 greatest ease to a large open space, around 
 Avhich the whole population of the place was 
 gathered. Here we were surrounded by at 
 least a hundred armed men. A great fire 
 was burning in the open am, which was tended 
 by half-a-dozen stalwart savages, naked. 
 Five large stone slabs were placed over the 
 fire, and, judging from appearances, were as 
 hot as the floor of an oven. Our hearts sank 
 Avithin us as we saw these preparations. We 
 remembered all the stories of cannibalism we 
 had heard, and felt that such would be our 
 fate. A repulsive-looking man, wearing an 
 apron of hemp (he was the priest, it appeared), 
 came forward and examined us very carefully. 
 He was watched intently by our guards, who 
 were ready to obey his least wish. By his 
 direction we Avere arranged in a line, according 
 to some order ; a very fat sailor, named 
 Blewitt, on the left, I was on the extreme 
 right. When this ceremony Avas finished the 
 old man’s assistants, three in number, simi- 
 
A dventures in New G7iinea. 55 
 
 larly attired, only in shorter aprons, stepped 
 forward, and began to sing or chant some 
 strange words. At the chorus, which was 
 taken up by the crowd, accompanied by the 
 beating of drums, two of the most powerful 
 of our guards seized poor Blewitt, and, 
 dragging him forward, threw him upon the 
 heated slab, at the same time striking him on 
 the head with a club, which rendered him 
 unconscious. Again the chant began, and 
 again, at the chorus, a second of my poor 
 mates was despatched in the same way as the 
 former sailor was destroyed. By the time 
 the ceremony had reached mj'^self I was in a 
 kind of stupor, and was hardly conscious of 
 my movements. As the first strains of the 
 chorus arose, I put my hands up instinctively 
 to protect my head, and in a moment after 
 felt my hand grasped by the old priest. I was 
 conscious that he had given me the first 
 masonic grip. Immediate^ I replied, and 
 was answered again by him. Coming forward, 
 the old priest cut the rope with which my 
 hands and feet were bound, and, turning 
 himself to the crowd of astonished gazers, 
 addressed them, pointing now at myself, now 
 at the sun, and using the word “ Otaroo.” 
 Whenever this word was pronounced the 
 whole crowd turned away their heads, and. 
 
56 Advenhcres in New Giiinca. 
 
 putting out their hands, cried, in a subdued 
 voice, “ Otaroo ! ” 
 
 I was free, and was now invited to take a 
 seat by the priest’s side, and wait for my 
 share of the horrible repast. The latter part 
 of the invitation I declined, while accepting 
 the former from motives of policy. I was 
 thus constrained to sit by while the remains 
 of my unfortunate companions were served 
 round by the filthy cooks. The women and 
 children were not permitted to share in the 
 repast, which w’as one reserved exclusively 
 for the warriors of the tribe. 
 
 Deeply grieved and shocked as I was at 
 the terrible fate of my companions, yet I was 
 filled with thankfulness at my own fortunate 
 escape, and I could not help wondeiung how 
 it had been brought about. The old priest 
 certainly knew something of masonry, but 
 bow mucb knowledge he possessed, and wdiere 
 he had obtained it, I cannot say. 1 know 
 only that his knowledge was the means of 
 saving my life, and of inducing him to treat 
 me with kindness. I was now permitted to 
 go about freely, and was taken by the priest 
 to his house. I thus became sacred, and my 
 safety was secured at least for a time. 
 
 The priest’s house was different in many 
 respects from the houses of the other chiefs. 
 
Advenhires in New Guinea. 57 
 
 It was larger, and consisted of tliree floors, 
 one of wbicli was dug out of the earth. Into 
 this room no person was permitted to enter 
 but the priest himself. The second floor, 
 level with the street, consisted of only one 
 very large room, twelve feet by twent}’", which 
 had no connection wdth either the upper or 
 lower storey. The upper storey, divided into 
 three compartments, was occupied by the 
 priest’s wives, one in eacb compartment. In 
 this respect he differed from the other savages, 
 who were only permitted to have one wife. 
 A distinguished chief was permitted to have 
 two, and was expected to have two rooms on 
 the upper storey. The commoner people lived 
 wholly on a ground floor. Many of the houses 
 had verandahs round them, sometimes on 
 both upper and lower storeys. 
 
 But this was a privilege that was not per- 
 mitted to the smaller houses, unless their 
 occupants had distinguished themselves in 
 some way. The fact is that the storeys and 
 compartments of a man’s house, together 
 with the style of the verandah, were a mark 
 of his position in his tribe. At one glance 
 you could tell who among the people of the 
 village were the principal and who the inferior 
 people. The village of Rdgek consisted of 
 about fifty or sixty houses, and was delight- 
 
58 Adventures in New Guinsa. 
 
 fully situated, afFording opportunities for 
 hunting and fishing during the greater portion 
 of the year. Here I remained for several 
 months, and made great progress in speaking 
 the language. By this means I picked up 
 considerable information about the interior, 
 and heard many wonderful reports of its 
 mysteries, which awakened in me the desire 
 to penetrate the dense forests which sheltered 
 it, and reach the kingdom of K’ootar enclosed 
 within the high ranges, whose peaks of snow 
 I had seen when on a hunting expedition 
 some ten miles inland, from the higher 
 ground. 
 
Advcnhtres in Nezv Gztinea. 
 
 59 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 As tlie reader may learn from tlie closing 
 sentence of the last chapter, I was allowed 
 the exercise of a great deal of liberty, indeed 
 was perfectly unrestrained, sharing freely in 
 all the expeditions of the tribe for hunting or 
 fishing j)urposes. On one of these expedi- 
 tions inland we reached a very high hill — 
 part of a range of mountains, running north 
 and south. 
 
 As I was anxious to obtain some idea of 
 the country beyond, I persuaded my com- 
 panions to ascend the range with me, and on 
 I’eaching the top I was able to see the sum- 
 mits of a distant mountain, or range of 
 mountains, whose whitened peaks were lost 
 in the clouds. On inquiring the name of this 
 mountain the natives shook their heads, and 
 became silent. After much persuasion on my 
 part they told me that it belonged to the 
 kingdom of K’ootar, and that a great king 
 ruled over the surrounding country. His 
 power was so great that none of the chiefs, 
 
6o 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 nor even the priests on the coast country, 
 were able to stand against him. I could get 
 very little information about this inland tribe, 
 as my companions did not care to speak about 
 the kingdom of K’ootar, being fearful of the 
 vengeance of the mountaineers. The fact is 
 many of them had a superstitious belief that 
 their words were carried to these terrible 
 people by invisible spirits. Hence they spake 
 only in whispers about the Great Kingdom in 
 Tanna-Vorkoo (the mountain range). I had 
 heard enough, however, to excite my imagi- 
 nation, and to prepare me for adventure. 
 Part of the information that I thiis gathered 
 was this. The people inhabiting the mountain 
 sometimes came down to the coast, riding on 
 evil spirits which moved like the wind, 
 breathing out fire from their nostrils, and 
 that nothing could withstand them. The 
 horsemen who rode on these fierce spirits 
 were clothed with flames, and burnt up every- 
 thing like the sun, dazzling the eyes of all 
 who looked upon them. From this I made 
 out that these mountain men were well armed, 
 and had bright, perhaps golden armour ; for 
 one of the prevailing stories in Australia be- 
 fore we started was that the interior of the 
 country was rich in gold. 
 
 Although much that was told me about the 
 
Advenhires in New Giiinea. 
 
 6i 
 
 Orangwoks (for sucli was their name) was 
 utter folly, yet I felt sure that there was 
 some foundation in fact, for these exaggerated 
 reports, and by some curious circumstances 
 I was able to make out the truth about the 
 mountain tribe. 
 
 The priest (whose name was Lakangeoo) 
 had taken me to live in his house, for a reason 
 which will presently appear, and I obtained 
 through his favour the restoration of my 
 clothes, with those of my poor mates who had 
 been murdered. I obtained also some of the 
 things which had been stolen from the ship. 
 Amongst these were some books, a Bible, the 
 old “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” and some pictures. 
 I got also some pencils, and a few quires of 
 foolscap paper, which were very useful to me. 
 But to return. The “ Pilgrim’s Progress ” 
 was, as the reader may remember, illustrated ; 
 and among the illustrations was a highly- 
 coloured picture of Christian on the Delectable 
 Mountains. On the plain was a flock of 
 sheep, several of which were brought out 
 towards the foreground. After my conver- 
 sation about the kingdom of K’ootar, I was 
 showing these pictures to one of the natives 
 wbo had given me the information, about the 
 evil spirits ridden by the mountaineers, and 
 when we came to the picture of the sheep on 
 
6s 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 the Delectable Mountains, he exclaimed, 
 “ Ahze, ahze,” — evil spirit, evil spirit, and 
 pointed to the sheep. I understood from 
 this that the mountain tribe were possessed 
 of horses, or ponies. 
 
 Lakangeoo (the priest) was a very shrewd 
 man, and endeavoured to obtain from me 
 information that might be useful to himself. 
 He, I suspect, fully understood that white 
 men were superior to black men. From 
 words that fell from him from time to time, 
 I came to the conclusion that many years ago 
 he had been in possession of a white man, 
 and I suspected that the priest’s knowledge 
 of masonry was deiuved from his white 
 prisoner, as he often made inquiries about 
 European practices (in these inquiries he be- 
 trayed the existence of a previous knowledge). 
 I related incidents of my own life, and among 
 them I told him of my digging experiences. 
 The old man’s eyes twinkled as he listened 
 to me, and his manner became eager as I told 
 him that the metal which was thus dug out, 
 of the earth was the same as that used by 
 the mountain chiefs in their dress and shields ; 
 and showing him a highly-coloured picture 
 in the “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” where a bright 
 yellow colour was conspicuous, I illustrated 
 my meaning to him. After this he was 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 63 
 
 always ready to talk to me about tlie way 
 the English gold-miner obtained, the precious 
 metal from the earth. From the persistency 
 with which he dwelt on the idea, I knew he 
 had some plot in his head, and felt sure that 
 a short time would reveal what it was. So 
 one day, after renewing our conversation 
 about the way of procuring gold, Lakangeoo 
 said to me, — 
 
 “ There is gold in K’ootar dug out of the 
 mountains in large quantities.” 
 
 “ So I thought,” was my reply ; “ do the 
 Orangwoks work their mines P ” 
 
 “Yes, after a fashion. We could show 
 them how to work them to greater advan- 
 tage.” 
 
 “ But would they not kill us if we crossed 
 the great Tannavorkoo ? ” for so was the 
 mountain called. 
 
 He replied, with an expression of contempt, 
 “ If we can show them how to work their 
 mines, they will welcome us. I have lived 
 many suns,” he said, pointing to his white 
 hair, as one might appeal to one’s knowledge 
 of the world. 
 
 From this time he began to plan Avith me 
 an adA'cnture hto the K’ootar territoiy. I 
 Avas as eager, although from a different 
 motive, as Lakangeoo, and resolved to share 
 
64 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 the adventure with him ; so, giving out that 
 he was going to confer with 0 fcaroo, he and 
 myself, accompanied by six strong men as an 
 escort, carrying all that we considered 
 valuable, started, taking a north-east route. 
 Under the guidance of the old priest, we 
 skirted the ground of other tribes that lay 
 between ourselves and the frontier, which, 
 after three days’ travelling, we reached in 
 safety. The land had been gradually rising 
 since we left the coast ; now it suddenly fell 
 some hundreds of feet, making a natural 
 rampart like a precipice some hundreds of feet 
 deep. Before descending the precipitous 
 rampart, I will describe the view v/hich we 
 now saw. A vast plain, well-watered, well- 
 wooded, well-cultivated. Streams of water 
 ran through all its extent, rendering it 
 wonderfully fertile. These streams dis- 
 charged themselves into a lake at the foot of 
 the natural rampart which bounded the 
 kingdom of K’ootar. The lake had (as far 
 I could learn) no outlet, so I conclude the 
 water escaped by some subterranean channel, 
 so passing on to the sea, and, as some 
 believed, fertilizing the coast country, in its 
 underground progress. The whole of this 
 immense plain was under cultivation, and 
 was like the garden of Eden for beauty and 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 65 
 
 fertility. Even now I could see througli the 
 clearings evidences of cultivation. The rising 
 smoke, curling high above the tall palm- 
 trees, showed in places innumerable the 
 presence of habitation — herds of cattle, 
 buffalo or bison, antelopes, and other game 
 were to be seen in all directions. As we 
 went through this natural paradise, we saw 
 richly plumaged birds, in size and variegated 
 colours such as I had never imagined. These 
 birds were called wawkoo. 
 
 Beyond all, about fifty miles distant, a very 
 high mountain rose, and bad its highest 
 snow-capped peaks in the clouds ; this was 
 the range called Tannavorkoo. It spread 
 itself out far beyond the limits of my vision, 
 maintaining everywhere its altitude. It was 
 such a range as might bar the progress of the 
 inexperienced traveller, and turn him back to 
 the fertile plain, out of which it rose. 1 had 
 not the least suspicion at this time that there 
 was a habitable, still less that there was an 
 actually inhabited territory, in the midst of 
 this range of high hills. 
 
 Before descending to the plain, we sent back 
 our escort, who had scarcely dared to look out 
 over K’ootar territory. It would have been 
 instant ^death to any one of them to set his 
 foot in that plain, so at least said Lakangeoo. 
 
 F 
 
66 
 
 Advenhtres in New Guinea. 
 
 lio sooner liad the priest and myself 
 descended, carrying our luggage with us, than 
 as if from the ground, a score of Orangwoks 
 enclosed us. They were mounted on little 
 ponies, striped with yellow and white, which 
 moved with great speed. Their riders were 
 clothed in a long, loose-fitting robe, x’eachiag 
 below the knee ; this was the common dress 
 of the country. They were armed with 
 swords, spears, and bows and arrows. Some 
 of them carried shields of pure gold, and 
 others had a breastplate of gold bars. They 
 had a warlike look, although they Avere of 
 small stature. We were seized before we 
 had time to offer resistance, even had we 
 thought of doing so, and bound with a well- 
 made rope of bark and gold thread. 
 
 The head of the troop demanded our names 
 and business in a tone of authority. He 
 spoke the same language as the coast tribe, 
 but spoke it differently. The coast tribe 
 spoke from the throat ; the Orangwoks spoke 
 from their lips and upper part of the mouth; 
 their voice too was more resonant, their 
 pronunciation of the words was also different, 
 and many of the words used were unknown 
 to me. Lakangeoo replied to the speaker, 
 and explained in an xmdertone our business. 
 The officer listenened with an indifferent air 
 
The capture. 
 
 Page 66. 
 
Advenhcres in New Guinea. 67 
 
 until the priest mentioned the goldmines. 
 The chiefs attention was at once aroused, 
 and he now displayed the keenest interest. 
 When the priest finished speaking, at a word 
 from the leader, every Orangwok sheated his 
 sword, or lowered his spear, from which I 
 inferred that we were safe, and prepared to 
 ride onward. Our course lay along a well- 
 made, well-beaten road ; the ofl&cer at the 
 head of the troop having first sent on 
 two of his soldiers (I suppose I must call 
 them such) in the direction of the mountain 
 range of which I have spoken. Their little 
 ponies went like the wind, and their white 
 and yellow stripes flashed in the passing light 
 in a striking manner ; so too did the arms 
 and shields, which were brightly burnished. 
 I could now understand how the imagination 
 of the coast natives had been wrought upon 
 by the vision of some hundreds of the Orang- 
 woks riding rapidly in their bright armour. 
 
68 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea, 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Lakangeoo and myself were still carrying the 
 heavy bundles containing our valuables, 
 which had hitherto been borne by our escort. 
 These packages weighed upwards of fifty 
 pounds each, and under a hot sun, for it was 
 now past noon, we found the burden as heavy 
 as we could well bear at the rapid pace 
 we were travelling, for, of course, there 
 were no ponies for us. After an hour’s 
 quick walking we reached a well-constructed 
 house built on the side of the road, and sui*- 
 rounded by waving trees, very tall and 
 graceful, which sheltered the building from 
 the great heat. We were glad of the rest 
 which we were allowed to take at this place ; 
 some refreshments had been prepared for us, 
 ordered by the couriers who had been sent 
 on in advance, and who, it appeared, still 
 continued in advance of us all along the 
 route. The house was the finest-looking 
 one I had yet seen. It was built of wood 
 throughout, and the rooms were very 
 
Advenhires in New Guinea. 6g 
 
 capacious. There were underground rooms 
 for summer use, and two stories above. 
 Although the wood-work was generally of a 
 rough description, yet there were indications 
 of a better taste in the carved finishings, and 
 the worked pillars supporting the verandah 
 which here, as on the coast, ran all round the 
 house, both upstairs and down. The upstair 
 rooms were reached on the outside by a well- 
 made ladder. The yard in which this house 
 was built was surrounded by tropical vegeta- 
 tion and tropical fruits. In one corner of 
 the court was a fine bath, sheltered by trees. 
 This was the first bath I had seen, and I 
 was glad to avail myself of the permission to 
 have a swim in the water, which I found 
 delightfully cool. A magnificent specimen 
 of the wawkoo sat in one of the tall trees, 
 watching my bathing operations. Its 
 feathers, which were of gold, crimson, blue, of 
 every colour of the rainbow, shone richly 
 in the sun. The note of the bird is, how- 
 ever, very coarse and unmusical. 
 
 After a rest of a couple of hours our 
 captors prepared to continue their march. 
 The priest and myself were now placed upon 
 horseback — that ■ is, we were put upon 
 little ponies such as our captors rode. This 
 was a great relief to me, especially as our 
 
70 Adventures in New Gidnea. 
 
 biirdens had been strapped upon another pony. 
 When all was ready we were placed in the 
 middle, four riding in advance, four on either 
 hand, and the remainder of the troop bring- 
 ing up the rear. At the word “ blanputt ” 
 we started at a rapid pace, a quick canter, 
 which soon quickened to a hand-gallop, 
 as our little ponies got warm, and thus we 
 continued for a full hour, the horses’ feet, 
 with the spears and swords of our escort, 
 making a great clatter. 
 
 The Orangwoks — judging from our guards, 
 and I found that they were good specimens 
 of the tribe generally — 'were short, not more 
 than five feet in height, some of them as little 
 as four feet six. They were fairer than the 
 coast natives, and had straight hair. In 
 many there was a tendency to curl at the 
 ends, and in some few there was an actual 
 frizziness all over the head. They were 
 very proud of their hair and their teeth, 
 which were pearly white. In this there was 
 a striking contrast with the shore tribe, whose 
 hair stood up like a huge mop, or like 
 porcupine quills, all round the head, and 
 whose teeth were often very offensive. An 
 Orangwok reminded me of a Malay, and yet 
 he was something like a negro too, but very 
 much superior to the ordinary Papuan. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 71 
 
 While I make these reflections we are 
 galloping along the great highway, every few 
 miles passing a house like the one at which 
 we had rested. These houses were placed 
 every ten or twelve miles, and were posting 
 houses for the king’s service. Once we met 
 a troop of horsemen passing eastward, a short 
 parley ensued, the priest and myself were 
 examined, in much the same way as indolent 
 men would examine some curious specimen, 
 with a mixture of indifference, contempt, 
 and curiosity, and then on we went again. 
 At night we rested in one of the posting- 
 houses, and were off again at sunrise. I 
 was in great agony, for I had not ridden for 
 nearly twelve months, and the priest was in a 
 worse condition. Still we were hurried on, 
 until towards noon we approached the foot of 
 the great Tannavorkoo. We now halted at 
 the last posting-house on the plain, and had 
 some refreshments. 
 
 About four o’clock we mounted our ponies 
 again, and began to ascend the range. I was 
 surprised to find so good a road cut out of the 
 solid rock. Places which seemed inaccessi- 
 ble, had been reached, great blocks of stone 
 broken away, and a good roadway cleared. 
 We continued to rise until night fell; even 
 now we did not draw rein, but kept on at a 
 
72 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 quick pace for an hour, until I could no longer 
 see the road, which I knew was not more than 
 eight or ten feet wide in places. We now 
 reached a small posting-house, and remained 
 there for the night. Early in the morning 
 we were again on our way, after taking a 
 look at the road which we had passed over in 
 the dark. We had been travelling along the 
 edge of a precipice which fell away from the 
 parapet abruptly, and had a descent of nearly 
 1000 feet. When we had reached an altitude 
 of about 3000 feet above the level of the 
 plain, we entered a vast plateau clothed with 
 some tropical vegetation, and very fertile, we 
 saw the smoke of a town or village before us, 
 and were glad to hurry on and rest ourselves, 
 for I thought that now our journey was over. 
 Some ten or twelve miles farther inland the 
 land began to rise again, and form a new 
 base for Tannavorkoo whose peaks seemed to 
 reach to the clouds. It was evident that 
 we were still at the base of the great moun- 
 tain. We rested at this village, or town, the 
 first that I had seen of the Orangwoks, but as 
 I shall have opportunity to describe the 
 capital city, I need not stay to describe this, 
 which was only a town of about three 
 thousand inhabitants. I was much struck 
 by the evidences of superior civilization which 
 it presented. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 73 
 
 After a few Lours’ rest, I learned to my 
 regret that we Lad still to travel onward, 
 and upward. TLis plateau was for spidng 
 Labitation, and it was now tLe LeigLt of 
 summer. It was well- watered by a river, 
 wLicL descended from the mountain range, 
 and which was judiciously directed into 
 numerous channels or canals. The danger 
 incident to mountain torrents or rivers 
 was thus avoided, and the whole land was 
 fertilized by the general diffusion of the 
 water. As we neared the defile of the upper 
 Tannavorkoo, a horseman started out and 
 challenged us. On receiving our pass-word 
 he allowed us to enter the defile. As we 
 entered, I saw the shields and spears of a 
 troop of horse, who were guarding the 
 approaches, rising out of a plantation. A 
 handful of men could keep such a pass 
 against thousands. Another day’s travelling 
 brought us to the higher plateau of the king- 
 dom of K’ootar, where the king and his 
 warriors have their summer residence. As 
 we rose to the level of the plain we felt the 
 agreeable change in the atmosphere. Every 
 man, as we ascended to the level country, 
 lifted his head-gear, which consisted of a 
 light frame of bamboo, covered with neat 
 grass-work. I thought that this was some 
 religious act, but I learnt that it was an 
 
74 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 act of homage to the king, whose sacred 
 presence filled the whole plain. We now 
 moved on more quietly, although we still 
 moved quickly. As we neared the city 
 every man again took off his head-gear, 
 and after mumbling some words replaced 
 it on his head. On entering the city 
 every one became silent, or spoke only in 
 whispers. This, I was informed, was out of 
 respect for the king’s palace, which was 
 inside the city; and here I may mention 
 that it was not considered good manners to 
 speak above a whisper while inside the walls 
 of K’ootar (the city gave its name to the 
 kingdom). It was this restriction which 
 doubtless formed that habit of restraint and 
 silence which was so observable in the 
 Orangwoks, especially when contrasted with 
 the Papuans proper, who were a highly 
 excitable and boisterous people. We walked 
 the streets in silence, having dismounted. 
 Our coming did not apparently occasion any 
 surprise on the part of the inhabitants. No 
 one turned to look at us ; and those who 
 passed us only noticed us by turning up 
 the palms of their hands, and looking into 
 it, their mode of salutation. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 75 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 K’ootab consisted of about two thousand 
 or three thousand houses, and had a popula- 
 tion of nearly ten thousand people. It was 
 by far the finest city of the kingdom, 
 though by no means the largest. None but 
 chiefs and warriors were permitted to 
 live in K’ootar, although any person, on 
 receiving permission, was allowed to stay 
 in it for a limited time. The houses 
 were of several storeys, varying from 
 three (including the ground floor) to 
 seven. The palace of the king consisted of 
 seven storeys. A few of the more distin- 
 guished chiefs had houses of six storeys, 
 others less distinguished had five, four, or 
 three. No house of less than three was 
 allowed to be built in K’ootar. This pro- 
 cured a uniformity which was very agreeable to 
 the eye. The streets were narrow — the only 
 fault I could find with the style of the city — 
 so narrow, that one’s movements were con- 
 siderably impeded if one was in a hurry. 
 
76 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 As, however, nobody was permitted to hasten 
 or appear hurried in K’ootar, this incon- 
 venience was not felt. The houses were 
 verandahed as on the coast, but more 
 elaborately, and with greater regard to the 
 rank and distinction of the possessor. The 
 palace had a verandah running right round 
 the house on each storey. In many of the 
 chiefs’ houses these verandahs did not go 
 completely round. It was a point of etiquette 
 rigidly enforced that no verandah could be 
 added on any pretence whatever, without the 
 express sanction of the king, who even held 
 a consultation with his wise men, the iioo, 
 before granting it. A description of one of 
 these houses will suflBee for all. 
 
 The house at which I was lodged, until 
 the king’s pleasure respecting me was known, 
 consisted of two large rooms on the ground 
 floor, each fifteen feet by twenty ; out of one 
 of these rooms there was an approach by 
 means of a ladder to the upper storey, which 
 again consisted of two rooms. Above this 
 storey were two other storeys, but the lower 
 one was reached from the outside from a court- 
 yard by means of a carved ladder, which had 
 a balustrade running down one side of it. 
 From this third storey the top floor was 
 reached from within. This was the floor of 
 
Advenhires in New Gtiinea. 77 
 
 honour, and the two upper storeys were 
 reserved for the women of the family. There 
 was little or no furniture in our sense of the 
 term. Well-carved settles were placed round 
 each room, which were used as. both seats 
 and beds. The floor was covered with well- 
 wrought mats, and the walls were decorated 
 with bright-coloured feathers and skins. 
 The meals were taken in the second storey, 
 the members of the family in the upper rooms 
 coming down to take part in the common 
 meal. After all the family had seated them- 
 selves on mats or rushes, a slave brought 
 the food on clean leaves or well-scoured 
 marble dishes, according to the nature of the 
 food. When many guests were present, and 
 it was desired to honour them, a difl^erent 
 method was observed in serving thedinner 
 or breakfast, for there was no evening meal. 
 Each room had a large opening in the centre 
 of the floor, which was skilfully concealed 
 under ordinary circumstances, but, on the 
 occasion to which I refer, these openings 
 were exposed, and the guests and members 
 of the family sat round them chatting and 
 laughing. Presently the head of a slave 
 would appear above the opening, and then 
 his shoulders, until his waist was on a level 
 with the floor. He had in his hand the 
 
78 Adventures in Nezu Guinea. 
 
 supply of food, which was handed about by 
 him in a remarkably quick manner, for it is 
 not considered etiquette for one guest to 
 handle the food of another. The slave had 
 to move all round the opening, serving each 
 guest with whatever he required. This was 
 managed by an apparatus set up on the lower 
 storey, by which means he was enabled to 
 walk rapidly round, the inside of the table 
 so to speak. At least one other slave, was 
 kept waiting upon the slave who was serving 
 the guests. It was considered a mark of 
 distinction to be invited to dine with a chief 
 who required three or foiir slaves to serve his 
 guests. In the houses of the chiefs who were 
 able to do this, the dining-room would be on 
 the third or fourth storey. That of the king 
 was on the fifth floor, and full a dozen slaves 
 were kept upon his dining-ladder. It seemed 
 to me that the most difficult and unpleasant 
 thing to do was considered the most 
 honourable by this people. But it is time to 
 return from this digression, as I do not 
 doubt the reader is equally anxious as my- 
 self to know how I am to be received by the 
 king. At first I was lodged, or placed in 
 custody of an old chief, of moderate distinc- 
 tion, who had a three-storeyed house. 
 
 Lakangeoo was placed in charge of some 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 79 
 
 other chief. Old Kayhar, the chief with 
 whom I was placed, had one wife and a 
 daughter about fifteen, the latter being evi- 
 dently in delicate health. They were all very 
 kind to me, and entered into conversation, 
 inquiring how I became white, and whether 
 there was any other country than K’ootar, 
 except the country of the Kahshi — coarse 
 spirits — the coast tribes. These Papuans 
 were universally called Kahshi by the Orang- 
 woks, and no greater term of contempt or 
 offence was known among them. I replied 
 by telling them of Europe, and describing its 
 great cities, its fleets of ships, the grandeur 
 of its kings. At this they were all silent. 
 They evidently did not believe me, yet were 
 unwilling to contradict w'hat I said. As they 
 all left the room that night, they raised their 
 hands, and, turning up the palm as if they 
 would examine it, bade me good night. 
 
 Here was I in such a position as probably 
 no European had ever been in before. I 
 thought my life was safe, yet I was too ex- 
 cited to sleep. My mind revelled in the idea 
 of adventure, and I gave full play to my 
 imagination. 
 
 In about a fortnight a great chief, who had 
 been brought from a distant part of the king- 
 dom, arrived, and, after I’epeated conferences 
 
8o Adventures m New Gttinea. 
 
 with him, the king decided that I should be 
 admitted to his presence. It appears that 
 Lakangeoo had been interrogated about me, 
 and had revealed our knowledge of gold- 
 mining to my captors. The chief who had 
 been brought from a distance had been in 
 charge of the gold-mining operations. Hence 
 the reason of his coming. He had conferred 
 with me several times before it had been de- 
 cided that I should be presented to the king. 
 Once having seen him, my kind host’s 
 daughter told me, my life was safe. Lakan- 
 geoo had not been permitted to see him ; and 
 here I may say that I never again saw the 
 old priest, nor do I know what became of him. 
 I never could obtain a scrap of information 
 respecting his fate. The day I was presented 
 was ushered in by the beating of drums, the 
 blowing of horns, and the jingling of a small 
 instrument made of gold bars. The sounds 
 made were very pleasing, but I am not able 
 to say how far they were musical. 
 
 At sunrise the town was astir, for the day 
 was a gala day, and people poured into the 
 streets from the country. Dressed in their 
 best, 1 was going to write, but this would be 
 a misnomer. They were nearly naked, having 
 only a thin piece of well-wrought stuff 
 descending from the loins to the knees. The 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 8i 
 
 men who were permitted to enter the palace 
 courtyard, had on only a short strip of thin 
 stuff, not more than six inches long. The 
 women who took part in the proceedings of 
 the palace were perfectly naked, with the 
 exception of a few ornaments. This was to 
 me a disgusting and immodest exposure ; and 
 yet the women themselves did not seem to 
 think there was any immodesty in their dress, 
 or want of dress. What makes this the more 
 noticeable is the fact that ordinarily they are 
 decently covered, and are generally a re- 
 markably modest class of women. 
 
 During the time I was lodging with Kayhar 
 I had learnt, if not to speak like the Orang- 
 woks, yet to understand their pronunciation. 
 For a time I was very much puzzled by their 
 speech, which was not at all like that of the 
 Kahshi. The sound was loud and resonant, 
 and appeared to come from a distance. Even 
 in K’ootar itself the whispers were marked 
 by the same characteristic ; they seemed to 
 come from the top of the speaker’s head. I 
 had got somewhat accustomed to this in my 
 host’s family, and could now readily under- 
 stand their speech, although many of their 
 words were still unknown to me. I had been 
 carefully instructed in the etiquette connected 
 with a presentation by my host, so I did not 
 
 G 
 
82 
 
 Aaventures in New Guinea. 
 
 fear the ceremonies of the coming day. In- 
 deed I was most anxious to see the terrible 
 king, of whom everybody stood in such awe. 
 I had thought that there was something 
 special about this particular levee, if I may 
 call the ceremony of a savage court by such 
 a name — that it was specially convened in 
 connection with myself. This was not the 
 case, however. It was the regular assembly 
 held every month, except in the winter, on 
 the day of the full moon. The presentations 
 were made in a spacious courtyard, reserved 
 for state occasions. The floor of this yard 
 was of marble, inlaid with bars of gold. The 
 marble was smooth and well polished, but 
 the gold was rough and frosted. In the 
 centre of the floor was a dais, very roomy, 
 and on the dais were two thrones raised by 
 means of several steps considerably above 
 the level of the dais itself. The thrones were 
 of pure gold, and were surrounded by 
 brightly-polished mirrors, which caught and 
 reflected the sun’s light in a most dazzling 
 manner. Indeed one could not look without 
 blinking at the king and his wife, who occu- 
 pied the thrones. On the first step on either 
 side of the king stood one of the u.66 men 
 with long grey hair and beard ; below them, 
 on the next step, stood two more of the tioo, 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 83 
 
 younger in years, while the dais was occupied 
 by a troop of guards, who surrounded the 
 sacred steps. Immediately on either side of 
 the thrones, but standing on the dais, were 
 two immense tigers, beautifully striped. They 
 looked as if they were ready to spring upon 
 the prostrate crowd of courtiers, but they 
 were firmly secured by means of well- wrought 
 ropes, twisted with gold wire. The whole 
 yard was lined with guards who sat upon 
 their little ponies against the wall, and, with 
 couched spears or drawn swords, looked as if 
 they were only waiting for a nod from the 
 despot to fall upon the crowd and slay them. 
 Every one who entered passed up a lane of 
 such guards, and. on approaching the dais fell 
 upon his stomach, drawing himself along in 
 this position until he was opposite the king’s 
 throne. He then turned up his hand towards the 
 king three times, keeping his face to theground 
 all the time, and on receiving a gentle prick 
 from the spear of one of the many guards, he 
 moved on again until he got beyond the limits 
 of the dais. On reaching this limit, he sprang 
 to his feet, and, entering the crowd of spec- 
 tators who were in the galleries abound the 
 courtyard, took his place among the onlookers. 
 Although the ceremonies were very painful, yet 
 they were performed with great rapidity, us 
 
84 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 one person followed quickly upon the heels 
 of another. Nearly five hours, however, 
 elapsed before my turn came to be presented. 
 I was neither courtier nor criminal — a kind 
 of suitor for mercy ; so my case was peculiar. 
 When I came opposite the throne I stopped, 
 and was questioned amid the breathless 
 silence of the crowd. 
 
 “ What is your name ? ” 
 
 “ Tregan.” (My sailor friends had short- 
 ened my name to Trigg — sometimes Trik — 
 but the Kahshi had called me Tregan, which 
 suited the genius of their language, so I gave 
 my name as Tregan.) 
 
 “ What country did you come from ? ” 
 
 “ A country beyond the great ocean.” 
 After this answer there was a short silence, 
 and some consultation. 
 
 “ How did you become white ? ” 
 
 “ I was born so. All people are white in 
 my country.” 
 
 At this there was another short silence, 
 and a further consultation. I heard the 
 word “edze” used several times. I was 
 afraid I was getting into disgrace again. 
 
 “ What do people in your country do ? ” 
 
 “ Dig gold out of the earth.” 
 
 “ How is the gold obtained ? ” 
 
 To this I replied shortly by explaining. 
 
Adventures in New Gtdnea. 85 
 
 “ Will you go to the gold-mines of the 
 Great King ? ” (And here I could feel there 
 was a general movement of reverence.) 
 “ And teach his servants to get gold ? ” 
 
 To this I replied that I would. 
 
 These questions were not put to me by 
 the king himself. He addressed the wise 
 man on his right hand, who again communi- 
 cated with one on the next step, and he to 
 one on the dais. My answer was conveyed 
 to the king after a similar manner, but going 
 the reverse way, being delivered to him by 
 the wise man on his left hand. 
 
 I was now gently touched with the spear, 
 and moved on, pleased that the wearisome 
 and painful exhibition was over. On going 
 up into the galleries already mentioned, I 
 Avas struck with the magnificence of the cere- 
 monial. The bright sun, which fell upon the 
 gorgeous spectacle, illuminated the vast 
 court with dazzling light; for every guard 
 Avas clothed in bright uniform overlaid with 
 gold. Everywhere there was a profusion of 
 this metal. 
 
 The king was very small, not more than 
 four feet high, and made in proportion. His 
 Avife was still smaller. They were richly 
 dressed, and their jewels (they were the only 
 persons permitted to wear jewels) shone with 
 
86 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 a dazzling lustre. In addition to the tigers 
 I have mentioned there were on the outer 
 rim of the dais four wild-looking animals 
 (bisons, I believe they were); while in the 
 trees which shaded the throne, and which 
 were carefully cultivated, there sat several 
 magnificent wawkoo. 
 
 As the king and the queen descended from 
 their high seat the crowd prostrated them- 
 selves, and so remained until their Majesties 
 had withdrawn. The ceremony, to which so 
 many looked forward with eager anxiety, had 
 now come to an end, and we were free to 
 return to our houses. I may mention here 
 that no sooner had the king withdrawn than 
 I was surrounded by an eager throng of 
 Orangwok warriors, their wives and daughters, 
 who saluted me, and welcomed me to K’ootar, 
 pressing invitations to visit them at their 
 houses upon me. It seemed as if I was in a 
 charmed world. 
 
 On my return to the house of Kayhar I 
 was welcomed very heartily by Lamlam, my 
 host’s daughter, who was eager to know 
 what I thought of the great ceremony. I 
 expressed my admiration and wonder at the 
 splendour which I had seen, which gratified 
 my fair questioner. I could not help, how- 
 ever, remarking upon the women’s want of 
 
Adventures m New Gtdnea. 87 
 
 costume on such occasions. Lamlam seemed 
 surprised at this, and said, — 
 
 “ It is usual ; everybody does it. Where 
 is the harm in it ? ” 
 
 “ It is not done in my country,” I replied. 
 “ Any woman who acted so would be looked 
 upon with abhorrence as indecent.” 
 
 This hurt the gentle Lamlam, so I hastened 
 to explain that probably habit made all the 
 difference between the usages of different 
 people. 
 
 “Yes,” she replied, “ we are accustomed 
 to this practice from the time we are children, 
 and no one refuses to conform to it except 
 those who are edze (that is, out of their 
 mind), and they are sent out of K’ootar. 
 No one is permitted to live here who does 
 not conform to our customs.” 
 
88 
 
 Adi>entures in New Gtiinea. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Hotaewokoo,^ for such was the name of the 
 king of K’ootar, meaning the living one — ■ 
 terrible king of beauty — such, at least, is the 
 nearest approach that can be made in English 
 to the meaning of the name — Hotarwokoo 
 was about thirty years old. He had succeeded 
 the previous king five years before, and had 
 been selected to succeed by a council of the 
 iioo. It appears from what I could learn 
 that the eldest son of the king does not 
 necessarily succeed his father to the throne. 
 The heir is elected by the council of wise 
 men, who meet in secret, in a darkened 
 chamber, for the purpose of designating the 
 king’s succesor. He must belong to one of 
 the principal families, and must not be more 
 than four feet high ; for such is one of the 
 absurd restrictions imposed upon the choice 
 
 ' The frequent recurrence of the vowels oo in com- 
 bination has led me to the conclusion that they have 
 an adjective force ; and that they are equivalent to 
 goodj or great, — Ed, 
 
AdvenUires in New Guinea. 89 
 
 of the iioo. I could not ascertain how or 
 when this restriction was first imposed, but 
 suspect that it was a device of the chieftains 
 in an earlier age to protect themselves and 
 their families from the mere brute force of 
 their superior chief. But however the practice 
 arose, it is certain that no one now questions 
 its expediency. Yet it had a very bad effect 
 upon the physical training of the Orangwoks, 
 for it set a kind of fashion of smallness, 
 which had an injurious effect upon the people 
 generally ; at any rate, upon the chiefs. The 
 present king had the reputation of being an 
 amiable man, and was held in very high re- 
 gard in consequence. I do not know that he 
 ever distinguished himself in any way, but as 
 the kingdom was prosperous, and had been 
 long at peace, much of this favourable con- 
 dition of things was ignorantly attributed to 
 him ; and as he did not mix with the nobles 
 (if I may call them by a name which is so 
 misleading), and lived in a very secluded 
 manner, he was held in greater awe, as well as 
 affection, than any of his predecessors, I was 
 assured. I have several times spoken of his 
 wife. I should have mentioned his wives, for 
 he had seven; only, six of them were not 
 supposed to be known, nor were they ever 
 spoken of in the presence of the wives and 
 
go Adventures m New Guinea. 
 
 daughters of the other chiefs. These wives 
 were never seen in public, and nobody knew 
 anything about them. Here is a fitting place 
 to mention the usages of the Orangwok 
 nobles respecting wives. Polygamy was al- 
 lowed, but was not encouraged. The women, 
 I was glad to learn, were entirely opposed to 
 it, except in very exceptional cases. No 
 chief, however, was permitted to have more 
 than four wives, and they, like the additional 
 wives of the king, were not generall;f known. 
 It is not to be supposed that many of the 
 chiefs really had so many as four wives, for 
 such was not the case. For every separate 
 wife a chief was bound, by strict custom, to 
 build and maintain a separate establishment. 
 This fact naturally tended to hinder the 
 growth of polygamy. 
 
 As it is not my intention, even if I had the 
 ability or knowledge which would enable me 
 to do so, to write a book about the customs 
 and habits of the people of K’ootar, I will 
 return from this digression to my own personal 
 adventures while in this country. As I have 
 said, I was heartily welcomed by Kayhar and 
 his family on my return from the palace, and 
 was treated with great kindness. A room 
 was now assigned me for my own sole use 
 until it was decided when I was to start for 
 
Adventtires in New Guinea. 91 
 
 the king’s mines. I had also my clothing 
 restored to me, together with several of the 
 books and the paper which had been saved 
 from the wreck. Both books and paper were 
 a great source of comfort to me. The pictures 
 were intensely amusing to Lamlam, and when 
 she saw me reading off the page of the book 
 a real story, which I translated as well as I 
 could as I read, she was excessively astonished, 
 and called her mother to witness this mar- 
 vellous feat. After seeing these things, and 
 seeing me use the pencil for the purpose of 
 drawing in a rude way some figures, they 
 began to question me more minutely about 
 the great world beyond the sea. Next 
 morning, Lamlam came to me, and begged 
 me to teach her to speak to the wonderful 
 book. I explained, after reading the English 
 aloud, that it would be impossible for her to 
 understand it ; but I would teach her to write 
 with the pencil. So apt was she that before 
 the day closed she had learnt several words, 
 quite a dozen, off by heart. The characters 
 were of course English, but the words spelt 
 were Orangwok Avords. I then wrote them 
 in the order of a sentence, which she read 
 aloud with childish delight. This Avas the 
 sentence I composed for her : — 
 
 “ Pretty Lamlam has asked Trcgan to 
 
92 Adventures in New Guinea, 
 
 teach her. Tregan will teach Lamlam to 
 read. Lamlam is pretty and good.” 
 
 Having read this over again, making out 
 each word slowly, she ran to her mother, and 
 showing her what she had on the paper, read 
 it aloud. Every day after this, she came to 
 me to give her a lesson, which I gladly did. 
 
 I had a natural talent for drawing, and 
 although I had not cultivated it, yet I could 
 draw anything that I saw roughly in outline. 
 One day I took a rough sketch of Tannavor- 
 koo, and showed it to Lamlam. This again 
 amazed her, for these people, though not 
 wanting in ability, yet had no literature of 
 any kind, and made no attempt, beyond a 
 little carving, to imitate the works of nature. 
 They would say, “If you want a wawkoo 
 keep one in your house.” I then, while 
 Lamlam sat patiently, tried to make a sketch 
 of her face. After a sort I caught its ex- 
 pression, and then gave the drawing to her. 
 Situated as I was, I resolved to endeavour to 
 improve myself in every way that I could. 
 I felt that this would relieve the tediousness 
 of my captivity, for such I began to feel my 
 position to be. I often walked out with 
 Kayhar to see the city. The character of tho 
 houses has been described. Behind them 
 there ran in every case a large garden-plot — 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 93 
 
 in some cases very large — kept like a park. 
 This park had in it rare trees and flowers, 
 beautiful specimens of thebirds of the country, 
 and an abundant supply of tropical fruits. 
 Nearly every chief kept a slave, whose sole 
 business it was to play some musical instru- 
 ment, generally a drum. This was accom- 
 panied by a shrill instrument, made from a 
 bamboo reed. Occasionally, the more dis- 
 tinguished chiefs added a third of gold bars, 
 and so formed a small band, which played of 
 an afternoon in the garden-parks. As these 
 garden-parks were attached to every chief’s 
 house, K’ootar covered a very large extent of 
 ground. 
 
 After I had been idle for about three weeks 
 longer, I was warned that in seven days (the 
 day after the monthly levee) I must start for 
 the king’s mines. I at once signified my 
 readiness to start whenever his Majesty 
 should be pleased to direct me to do so. 
 
 I left some of my pencils and.paper (indeed 
 the greater portion of the latter) with 
 Lamlam ; I left her also the illustrated 
 “Pilgrim’s Progress,” and the pictures. I 
 took with me my Bible — the present of my 
 dear mistress — some pencils, and a few quires 
 of foolscap paper. 
 
 When the time drew near for me to leave 
 
94 Advenhtres in New Gtnnea. 
 
 tlie house of my kind host, I felt very heavy 
 and sorrowful. I had become quite attached 
 to the whole family. 
 
 As I was to leave in the morning at four 
 o’clock, just as the sun rose, I bade my 
 kind friends good-bye (English fashion) by 
 shaking hands overnight, and then retired to 
 rest. At four o’clock I was ready to start, 
 and was preparing to leave the door-way, 
 when little Lamlam entered. The tears 
 stood in her eyes, as she gave me her hand 
 and bade me good-bye again. I was much 
 touched with this instance of her affection, 
 and could not resist the impulse to bid her 
 farewell Frenchwise, telling her I would often 
 think of Lamlam, 
 
Advenhtres in New Guinea. 
 
 95 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Our pai’ty consisted of the old chief, who 
 was governor of the mining territory Watjira, 
 and who was accompanied on his return to 
 that district by several other chiefs, a com- 
 pany of not less than twenty guards, several 
 — not fewer than six — criminals (these were 
 picked up about ten miles from K’ootar), 
 and myself. We were all mounted on ponies, 
 and the guards were well armed. The old 
 chief and his companions formed a party of 
 their own, so the officer in command of the 
 troop invited me to ride by his side, an 
 invitation which I very gladly accepted. 
 The sun was already showing like a ball of 
 fire above the eastern hills, when we started 
 from the gate of K’ootar. The rays of the 
 sun were shining clearly and strongly on the 
 snowy tops of Tannavorkoo, dispersing the 
 light mists which hung around its brow. 
 Even now the heat was great, but our 
 quick motion created a pleasant breeze, which 
 kept us beautifully cool. At a distance often 
 
g6 Adveniures in New Gtiinea. 
 
 miles we reacted a small outpost, consisting 
 of several guard-houses. Here we took up 
 our contingent of criminals, for persons 
 under sentence for any crime were not 
 allowed to come within ten miles of K’ootar, 
 I found now that all criminals were sentenced 
 to work at the mines. And once there it 
 was not often that they returned to K’ootar 
 proper. They might collect sufficient gold 
 at Watdra to redeem their liberty; and on 
 doing this they were in a position to return, 
 of whatever crime they had been convicted, 
 short of treason against the king. The 
 Orangwoks did not appear to have any idea 
 of the immoral nature of crime. Crime was 
 to them simply a violation of the laws or 
 usages of their land. It did not leave 
 behind it any moral taint, which would 
 prevent the person who had recovered his 
 liberty (very few ever did redeem themselves, 
 I found) from returning to his old place 
 among his friends. 
 
 After baiting our hardy little ponies — for 
 we had a long day’s ride before us — we started 
 again, the prisoners in the centre of the 
 troop. As I rode by the side of the officer 
 of the troop, named Lanna, I entered into 
 conversation with him respecting the nature 
 of the prisoners’ offences. There was one 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 97 
 
 of the criminals, who had a very repulsive 
 appearance, sullen and cruel-looking. I 
 asked my companion the nature of his 
 offence. 
 
 “ He,” was the reply, “ committed murder, 
 and stole the murdered man’s property. He 
 escaped to the mountains, and defied all our 
 attempts to take him. He was canght at 
 last by a clever stratagem.” 
 
 “ What was its nature ? ” I asked. 
 
 “ Well, it was known that he was very 
 fond of his son, a boy of about fourteen years 
 old, very small in stature, so our chief,” he 
 said, lifting his hat, “ sent for the youth, and 
 had him kept in close quarters until a power- 
 ful man of the youth’s size could be discovered. 
 This was a work of some difficulty, for 
 strength requires size.” (At this my friend 
 swelled his little body out to its full dimen- 
 sions.) At last a very small man was found 
 who was extremely powerful. The fact is, 
 there is not a man in our troop, and we have 
 some very powerful men ” (again my friend 
 inflated himself) “ among us, who was able 
 to hold him or throw him, and what was of 
 more importance, was able to get out of his 
 clutches when once in them. How, the boy 
 was very pale, and had a limp in his left leg, 
 so our chief procured a skilful imitator, and 
 
98 AdvenHires in New Gtdnea. 
 
 directed him to make the little man like the 
 murderer’s son. This was not easily done, 
 yet all things yielded to skill and patience, 
 and at last the boy was brought into the 
 presence of our chief. ‘Well, my boy,’ he 
 said, ‘ so you wish to return to your home ? ’ 
 
 “ ‘ If you will graciously allow me to do 
 so,’ was the reply. 
 
 “ The chief started. He had been deceived 
 by the striking likeness to the murderer’s 
 son. 
 
 “ This man was now sent to the moun- 
 tains, and shortly found himself in the 
 embrace of yonder villain. You may 
 imagine the scoundrel’s surprise to find that 
 his beloved son grasped him so firmly, and 
 that by no effort could he succeed in freeing 
 himself from that iron grasp. At first he 
 thought his son was 6dze. But when he 
 learned the fact that he was actually in the 
 hands of his enemies his rage knew no bounds. 
 It was a clever trick,” continued the young 
 oSicer, laughing heartily at his recollection 
 of the stratagem. 
 
 “ And can that man return again to the 
 society of innocent people after a time? 
 How many years is he sentenced to remain 
 at the mines ? ” 
 
 “ He may never come back again. The 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 99 
 
 probability is that he will turn scoundrel 
 there, and die at the mines. He is not sent 
 for any particular time, only until he has 
 raised a certain amount of gold. The time 
 he takes to do this will depend upon his luck 
 as well as his skill and industry. And when 
 he has done this, why shouldn’t he return to 
 K’ootar ? He is not worse than others. All 
 men have murder in their hearts.” 
 
 “ And who is that young man, with rather 
 a pleasant, intelligent-looking face, who is 
 bound with the murderer ?” 
 
 “ He is a worse character still. You see 
 how you may be deceived by a man’s face.” 
 
 “ What did he do, then ? I cannot imagine 
 a much worse crime than that of the man you 
 have told me of.” 
 
 “ He burnt down one of the groves at 
 Otaroo.” 
 
 On saying this, the man reverently lifted 
 his hat, and relapsed into silence. This was 
 the first hint I had of anything like the exis- 
 tence of a religious belief or service among 
 these people, but I could not obtain any fur- 
 ther infoi’mation on the subject at that time. 
 
 We had been travelling rapidly, and were 
 now approaching the termination of the plain, 
 in a south-westerly direction from K’ootar. 
 We now halted, and under the shelter of a 
 n 2 
 
100 
 
 Advenhires in New Gttinea. 
 
 high rocky peak, which started out of the 
 plain, we dismounted to refresh ourselves. It 
 was about seven o’clock, an d as it was our inten- 
 tion to reach a certain posting-house by eleven 
 o’clock, we halted for half an hour only, enter- 
 ing the mountain range at eight o’clock. For 
 the next two days we did nothing but climb 
 steep, dangerous paths, hedged in by yawn- 
 ing precipices on the one side, and blank 
 stone walls on the other. But our little beasts 
 were hardy and sure-footed ; never giving a 
 chance in all the journey. Towards the end 
 of the second day we met a company descend- 
 ing the mountain. They were laden with 
 gold, and were strongly armed. After we had 
 passed the descending troop, I asked my 
 companion, — 
 
 “ Is there ever any attempt to rob these 
 escorts of their gold ? ” 
 
 “ There used to be,” he replied, with a 
 strange smile. 
 
 “ And were these attempts successful ? ” I 
 asked. 
 
 “ I will answer you presently,” was Lanna’s 
 reply. 
 
 We now entered a plantation of thick trees, 
 through which the road lay. When we reached 
 the centre of this grove I was conscious of an 
 excessively offensive smell, which poisoned 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 lOI 
 
 the whole atmosphere. Before I could obtain 
 any answer to my eager questions my com- 
 panion stopped, and, pointing to a tall tree, 
 showed me the corrupting bodies of five men. 
 They were enfolded by the coils of a huge 
 snake, which was wound around them very 
 elaborately. The snake, of the boa-constrictor 
 kind, was about seventeen feet in length. Of 
 course it was dead, and had been used as 
 the instrument of death to the unfortunate 
 men. 
 
 “ There,” said the officer, “ there are the 
 men who attempted to rob a guard of 
 Orangwoks of the gold they were carrying 
 to the king.” 
 
 He said this with a curl of contempt on 
 his lip. 
 
 We were glad to get beyond the range of 
 this poisonous stink. In another hour (we 
 were still rising) we entered a small plain 
 enclosed in the mountains. It was a black, 
 weird-looking spot; no trees grew upon it, 
 and only the most stunted kind of herbage. 
 The sun never shone upon it, for his rays were 
 intercepted by the high mountain peaks that 
 were all around. Only in one place did the 
 light of the sun fall, and there only for half 
 an hour in the day. As we entered this 
 dreary-looking level, our leader, pointing 
 
102 
 
 Advenhi7'es in New Guinea. 
 
 •with his sword to a high ledge of rock, con- 
 siderably beyond us, said, — 
 
 “ There are robbers. Orangwoks, ready.” 
 And in a short space six of our troops were 
 careering at full speed towards the robbers, 
 who sat for a time in ignorance of our ap- 
 proach. No sooner, however, did they see 
 us, than they rose to their feet, and began to 
 scramble up the'steep hill-side withgreat speed. 
 Our troop followed them on their ponies, the 
 little things climbing like goats. We watched 
 the pursuit with interest ; all except the chief 
 and his immediate friends, who sat apart and 
 took no notice of such contemptible things as 
 robbers. Our interest was sustained by seeing 
 that the troop was gaining upon one of the rob- 
 bers, who had separated himself from his com- 
 panions, At last springing up the steep face of 
 a huge rock, he signified by his movements 
 that he had escaped. His triumph -was of 
 short duration, for one of the troop, springing 
 from his pony, climbed up the face of the same 
 rock, and, on the robber attempting to push 
 him back again, grappled with him, and 
 pulled him down the steep side of the cliff. 
 We heard one cry, as the two men came roll- 
 ing down first the rock and then the steep 
 side of the hill, thumping from stone to stone 
 like huge boulders. When their descent was 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 103 
 
 cliecked they were both dead — bruised and 
 beaten to pieces. After catching the unfor- 
 tunate trooper’s pony, and taking off his dress 
 and arms, we rode on as if nothing had hap- 
 pened, leaving the bodies unburied. 
 
 “ The king has one enemy less,” said my 
 companion, “ and one soldier less, but as he 
 has more soldiers than enemies the king is a 
 gainer by this result.” 
 
 Our chief had hardly condescended to 
 notice the result of the fray, an indifference 
 to human life which did not raise him in my 
 estimation. 
 
104 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 This little episode gave me an insight of the 
 Orangwok character, which was a very un- 
 pleasant and painful one. It showed that 
 there was an indifference to human life and 
 suffering, which was surprising, when con- 
 trasted with their advancement in some other 
 respects. 
 
 We had now reached an altitude of ten or 
 twelve thousand feet, I should think, and 
 began to feel the change in the state of the 
 atmosphere very keenly at night. Xext day we 
 continued our advance upward, in a more 
 direct route, and saw at times the line of snow, 
 which was not far from us. I may here say, 
 without particularizing any further, that our 
 route lay through the Tannavorkoo moun- 
 tains, and that the path which we travelled 
 was cut out of the solid rock in many places, 
 and although well made for a mountain path, 
 yet we had many perilous and difficult pas- 
 sages to pass. 
 
 About noon, on the third day, we had 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 105 
 
 reached the snow limit, and should, my friend 
 informed me, begin to descend at once. No 
 person ever climbed beyond the position we 
 had now attained, for the spirit of Tanna- 
 vorkoo lived beyond. He could be heard 
 talking to himself frequently, and no one 
 would venture to intrude upon his privacy. It 
 is often said that sailors are superstitious, yet 
 the Orangwbks are as full of superstitions as 
 any sailor that I have ever known. Anything 
 that is unknown to them they invest with life, 
 and strange and terrible powers, and although 
 they do not always worship it, yet they are 
 always afraid of it. They were afraid, I 
 gathered from my companion, of the spirit of 
 the mountain, and gave him a wide berth, by 
 not venturing higher than our present halting- 
 place. We were now fully fifteen thousand feet 
 above the level of the sea.^ 
 
 I had never been so high in the air in my 
 life. The prospect was wonderful and fasci- 
 nating, The eye was carried over all the lower 
 winter territory of the Orangwoks — the plain 
 which was first entered by the priest and my- 
 self. Of course, I could not distinguish any- 
 
 ^ It must be borne in mind that all the measurements 
 of space and time in this narration are mere approxima- 
 tions to the fact. Trcgan had no means of determining 
 either distance or time with accuracy. — E d, 
 
io6 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea, 
 
 thing at this distance, except the lake, which 
 I formerly mentioned. This I could now 
 see, like an immense blue cloud lying on the 
 ground. 
 
 "We halted at night, some hundreds of yards 
 lower down than the highest point we had 
 reached at noon. It was well that we had 
 descended so far, for a storm came on during 
 the night, and swept round the mountain 
 peaks with great violence. I had never heard 
 such thunder as rolled about the rocky sides 
 of the range, crash after crash, reminding me 
 of the firing of heavy artillery, followed by a 
 long rolling sound, which shook the hill, 
 coming when least expected, and from unex- 
 pected quarters. Eoll after roll of thunder, 
 long-continued vivid flashes of lightning, 
 forked, and in broad sheets of flame. Such 
 were some of the phenomena, and these con- 
 tinued for some hours. All the while heavy 
 rain fell, soaking us to the skin, for we were 
 only under the shelter of an old shed made 
 of rough logs, and put up very carelessly. As 
 I listened to the thunder, rolling about so 
 grandly, I could fancy there was some wild 
 spirit upon the mountain — such a fancy had 
 probably suggested itself to the minds of the 
 Orangwbks, and given rise to the superstition 
 of which I have spoken. After the storm 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 107 
 
 passed off, which it did in about two hours, 
 we made ourselves a little comfortable, and 
 waited for the morning. 
 
 I was awakened by a loud report, as if of a 
 cannon, followed by noises above our heads. 
 My friend said, — 
 
 “Hark! Tannavorkoo speaks. Listen!” 
 After listening for a short time, I thought 
 I understood the cause of the noises. They 
 reminded me of the breaking up of ice, which 
 I had heard when at sea in southern latitudes, 
 so I concluded that there was a lake above our 
 heads, farther up the mountain, and that it was 
 covered with thick ice, which was now break- 
 ing up under the action of the heavy rain.^ 
 These sounds, which were frequently heard, 
 were supposed by the Orangwoks to proceed 
 from the spirit of Tannavorkoo, and always 
 portended mischief. This superstition made the 
 old chief, and other members of our party, 
 extremely anxious to descend the mountain ; 
 yet no one dared to move until daylight, as 
 the paths were narrow and perilous. By the 
 first streak of light we were on our way 
 down, glad to be on the move, as the cold was 
 intense. Our path was now exceedingly 
 dangerous, as the water rushed over it in 
 torrents, and broke across our road at many 
 2 Tlii.s was probably a glacier. — E d. 
 
io8 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 points. The noise, too, of cataracts and 
 waterfalls filled the atmosphere with disturb- 
 ing, although pleasant sounds. In about a 
 couple of hours we were able to travel with 
 greater rapidity, as the road was much better, 
 and from this point all the danger and much 
 of the difficulty of our route were over. We 
 descended with great rapidity. At night the 
 atmosphere was again pleasant, although rather 
 cool. As we lay watching the sky and the large 
 bright stars which filled the field of vision, 
 my companion drew my attention to the 
 flashes of a bright light on our right, and 
 said, — 
 
 “ Tannavorkoo’s kitchen. He is cooking 
 his food.” 
 
 I looked, and after watching for a time, I 
 saw a deep, rose-coloured light, like that 
 caused by the reflection of a large fire. The 
 light kept changing its outline, rising and 
 falling, and spreading itself about. I could 
 imagine some part of the mountain on fire. 
 There was hanging over the spot a mass of 
 dark clouds, the outline of which was con- 
 tinually changing, being affected by the 
 changes of the light; but the mass itself 
 never seemed to move. As I had seen one 
 volcano in active work, I came to the con- 
 clusion that this was a volcano — one of the 
 
Advenhtres in New Guinea. 109 
 
 many in active operation in the interior of the 
 country. It was a grand sight, and I felt a 
 rush of pleasurable feelings as I looked upon 
 these wonders of this unknown land, and 
 felt that I was the first European who had 
 ever penetrated so far. My thoughts naturally 
 went back to my early home, and the expe- 
 riences of my past life. I recalled the little 
 graveyard, in which lay the dust of my dear 
 father, and wondered would my dust ever 
 mingle with his ; and then I reflected upon his 
 teaching, and asked myself how far I had en- 
 deavoured to profit by it, and was constrained 
 to confess that I had too often failed. Such 
 thoughts so worked upon my mind, that I 
 rose up from my place, and kneeling down, as 
 my companions slept, offei’ed a prayer to God. 
 I had not done this for years, although I had 
 not lived without the sense of God’s presence. 
 My mind was more composed, yet I could not 
 sleep, for I began again to think of the past. 
 I thought of my poor mother, and shed tears 
 at the thought of her sufferings and her sorrow 
 on my account. She would, I felt, never see 
 me again. 
 
 Dear Miss Cunningham, to whom I owed 
 so much, rose before me, and I felt compelled 
 to review all her kindness to me ; and Philip, 
 my early friend and brother, and our long 
 
I lO 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 painful travel, wlien we ran away from 
 our homes ten years ago — these passed before 
 me. Poor Philip ! his bones were lying in 
 the ocean, to wait the coming of the Day of 
 Judgment. And thus my night passed away, 
 in melancholy recollections of the past. 
 
 In the morning, I was informed that our 
 journey would terminate on the following 
 day. We were descending rapidly, and entered 
 upon a large valley, filled with trees and rich 
 vegetation. The sides of the mountain were 
 clothed with short trees, of the fir kind in 
 appearance, very much like some of those 
 which grow in our public parks, only much 
 smaller. Here, in the valley mentioned, the 
 trees were large, and the foliage rich and 
 plentiful. I will close this chapter by relating 
 an interesting conversation held between my 
 friend Lanna and myself. On this day, as 
 we rode together, he said to me, — 
 
 “I saw you get up last night, and fall 
 down upon your knees ; your lips moved. 
 What were you saying ? ” 
 
 “ I was praying ; speaking to my God.” 
 
 “ Who is he ? What is his name ? ” 
 
 “ His name is God, and He lives up yonder, 
 beyond Otaroo (the sun).” 
 
 At my mentioning the word sun (Otaroo), 
 my companion lifted his hat, and replied. 
 
Adventures in New Gtiinea: 
 
 III 
 
 “ Is lie, to whom you spoke, greater than 
 Otaroo?” 
 
 I replied by suggesting that Otaroo was 
 probably the same Grod, and that he lived 
 beyond the stars, or beyond the sun (for the 
 Orangwoks think the stars are only little 
 pieces of light stuck in the heavens), and that 
 this name was given to him because it was 
 the only thing worthy to represent him. On 
 my saying this, my companion became 
 thoughtful, and the conversation ceased. 
 
112 
 
 Adventures tn N'ew Guinea. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The cliange, when we reached the large 
 valley, was exceedingly agreeable, for the 
 cold farther up the Tannavorkoo had been 
 excessive. We were now warned that travel- 
 ling was dangerous from other causes, and 
 advised to keep together, and to keep a good 
 look-out. Wild animals were plentiful a 
 little farther down, so too were serpents, for 
 in this part of the country, which was not 
 frequented much by the natives, wild beasts 
 and snakes abounded. By nightfall we had 
 entered upon a broad plain covered with the 
 usual foliage of tropical countries. The heat 
 was now considerable. Xext day we should 
 be at the mines. 
 
 About eight o’clock the next morning the 
 plain narrowed itself to a large valley, through 
 which our course lay. We halted before 
 entering this comparatively narrow defile, for 
 hills rose on either side of it whose sides were 
 thickly covered with immense trees. Here 
 we were informed that our eyes, those of the 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 113 
 
 prisoners and myself, must be bandaged, as 
 the passage was one of considerable danger. 
 I did not like the idea, and begged that I 
 might be allowed to ride with my eyes un- 
 covered, as I could look upon anything. 
 Lanna, my friend, informed me, however, 
 that it was absolutely necessary that I should 
 be blindfolded, and advised me to submit and 
 leave myself with confidence in his hands, 
 comforting me with the assurance that all 
 would be well. "When we had all been ban- 
 daged, the guards took hold of our bridles to 
 lead us. I thought the pony’s head had been 
 turned about, as we began to move, but was 
 not sure. From a quick ambling pace we 
 passed into a gallop, and I found it very 
 difficult to keep my seat, for I could not 
 assist my judgment with my sight, so I was 
 constrained to hold on by clutching the pony’s 
 long mane with both hands. For half an 
 hour at least this pace was kept up, greatly 
 to my inconvenience. At the end of that 
 space of time we halted, and after a few 
 minutes’ delay our eyes were unbandaged. 
 We were standing before the mouth of the 
 valley down which we had galloped. We 
 were now informed of the reason for blind- 
 folding us. This was the celebrated serpents’ 
 valley, of which one heard so much at Watara, 
 
1 14 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 and wliicli had much to do with keeping 
 people at the mining country; for it was a 
 dangerous undertaking to travel through this 
 opening, and no other way to K’ootar was 
 known. As we stood here to give our ponies 
 a blow, my guide volunteered to take me 
 back to the entrance of the valley, that I 
 might get a better idea of the way we had 
 come. I consented, and, on our approaching 
 its mouth, I was struck very much by the 
 height and size of the trees. Their clear 
 stems ran up nearly a hundred feet before 
 the limbs began to appear on them, and were 
 very thick. Here too were many palm-trees, 
 whose feather-like plumes gave a graceful 
 appearance to the whole valley. There was 
 also a large tree-flower in this valley, which 
 was now in full bloom. The flower was a 
 bright scarlet, which hung suspended in long 
 folding pendants from the branches. At a 
 distance one might easily imagine these 
 scarlet trees to be trees of fire, whose pen- 
 dants, as they moved in the wind, were the 
 flames leaping and jumping. I was lost in 
 admiration as I contemplated these things ; 
 and as we continued to advance up the valley, 
 new beauties opened out before us. 
 
 “ Stop ! beware, Tregan ! ” cried my guide 
 in warning tones. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 1 1 5 
 
 I stopped at once, and, looking forward 
 under his direction, saw a vast snake curled 
 up at the foot of a tall tree in front of us. 
 I could not judge of its length, yet it must 
 have been very great. Another and another 
 of these coils were pointed out by him, and I 
 had an unpleasant sensation of cool perspi- 
 ration oozing out of the pores of my skin. 
 
 “ Take care, take care ! ” he cried out in 
 terror, and catching my pony by the head 
 he pulled me back towards the mouth of the 
 valley. 
 
 After we had got away some twenty yards, 
 I saw an immense boa-constrictor curled 
 round the stem of the tree, near which we 
 had been standing. The beast’s neck was 
 stretched some ten or twelve feet over the 
 pathway, and its head kept rising and falling 
 in much the same way as I have seen that of 
 a turkey wriggle about. The terrible reptile 
 had evidently been sunning itself, and, having 
 been awakened by our approach, had pro- 
 ceeded to uncoil its immense body in order 
 to obtain its mid-day meal. It was not less 
 than sixty feet long, I am sure, for I counted 
 at least six coils round the body of the tree — 
 allowing seven feet for the length of each 
 coil, and fifteen feet for the head and neck, I 
 made it out about sixty feet long. After 
 I 2 
 
ii6 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 this we hurried back to the guard, and re- 
 ported what we had seen. Several of the 
 prisoners expressing a wish to see the serpent, 
 they were permitted to approach the mouth 
 of the valley to catch a distant glimpse of 
 the boa, with which they were quite satisfied. 
 I learned afterwards — some years afterwards 
 — that this valley was never traversed by any 
 persons ; that the escorts really made a con- 
 siderable detour, and came out through a 
 secret channel whose approaches were care- 
 fully hidden by trees and rocks. This fact 
 was concealed from the mining population, 
 to hinder their return to K’ootar. They 
 knew of no other path than that through the 
 boa valley, and were too fearful of its horrors 
 to dare an attempt through it. Some had 
 indeed attempted to pass through it, but, as 
 they had never been heard of again, it was 
 universally believed that they had been 
 destroyed by the serpents ; and there can be 
 little doubt that such was the case. 1 have 
 heard somewhere that an army was once 
 stopped by a great snake, and I can readily 
 believe that the boas in this valley would 
 hinder the progress of the bravest army, if 
 not completely obstruct it. From this point 
 our road lay along a well-sheltered plain, the 
 track running by the side of tall, thickly- 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 1 17 
 
 foliaged trees. In about an hour from our 
 leaving the valley, I was startled by hearing 
 a cry for help, the sound coming, as it seemed 
 to me, from directly over my head. On 
 looking upward I was horrified to see an un- 
 fortunate wretch fastened to a tall tree by 
 means of ropes, and near him was a small 
 snake about eight feet long. The snake was 
 standing erect, and hissing at the unfortunate 
 man, who was beating his hands wildly, and 
 trying to avoid the fangs of the serpent. 
 
 “ Can we not help him ? ” I asked, greatly 
 excited. 
 
 “No, he is a criminal, and must die. 
 Better to die thus than wait to be starved or 
 torn to pieces by birds. He is fortunate.” 
 
 The snake had now bitten the man, at 
 least so I judged, for he gave a scream of 
 fear and pain, and seized the serpent’s head 
 with his half-loosened hands. The venomous 
 beast now curled itself rapidly round the 
 neck and arms of the poor man, and strove 
 to draw its head to the man’s face. But 
 desperation gave the poor fellow strength, 
 and for a long time he resisted successfully. 
 At last his strength failed, and we saw, to 
 my great horror, the snake’s fangs steadily 
 approaching the man’s open mouth, for he 
 was nearly suffocated. I could look no 
 
1 1 8 Adventures in New Guinea, 
 
 longer, and, turning my head away, continued 
 my journey. Again I remarked that the old 
 chief was indifferent, and gave no more than 
 a single glance at the unfortunate criminal, 
 who was suffering so terrible a death. In 
 another half-mile we saw a number of birds 
 hovering over a tree, and on our reaching it 
 saw another unfortunate creature chained in 
 its upper branches. He was vainly trying 
 to defend himself from the attacks of an 
 immense eagle which sailed backwards and 
 •forwards, every now and then descending 
 upon the poor wretch and striking him with 
 its powerful talons. When we were seen the 
 poor fellow cried to us in piteous terms to 
 save him. This, however, was impossible. 
 The old chief was immovable, so we were 
 compelled to ride on, and leave him to his 
 fate. Another and another tree contained 
 the corrupting corpses of men who had shared 
 similar fates. These things made me look 
 upon the governor of the gold-mines with 
 feelings of distrust, and I began to regret 
 that I was so completely in the power of such 
 a cruel despot. 
 
 How we reached a broad river, nearly half 
 a mile wide, formed by the confluence of all 
 the mountain streams. The river was deep 
 and rapid, and sometimes its passage was 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 119 
 
 exceedingly dangerous. It was crossed by 
 means of rough planking laid upon inflated 
 skins, which were kept supplied by proper 
 persons appointed to take care of them. As 
 the planking was not more than three feet 
 wide, and had no protection on either side, 
 the crossing was no pleasant undertaking, 
 especially as the planks jumped up and down 
 under our feet as if they were elastic. They 
 were also deflected by the strong current 
 that was running, so that they formed almost 
 a semicircle whose extreme points were 
 resting on either bank. 
 
 Here we all dismounted, and, handing our 
 ponies to the guards, proceeded to walk over 
 the narrow crossing. The ponies, after their 
 bridles had been tied to a long rope, were 
 plunged into the water, one of the guards 
 swimming in front of them, and leading them. 
 They accomplished the crossing with some 
 difficulty, and came safe to the other side. 
 
120 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Aptee crossing tlie river, which is called 
 Irfak, we proceeded in a northerly direction, 
 and arrived in about an hour and a half at 
 the mining country. I had expected to see 
 tents and windlasses, with all the parapher- 
 nalia of a digging life, to which I had been 
 accustomed in Australia, and was therefore 
 disappointed to see no such indication at 
 Watara, for so was the whole of the gold- 
 bearing region called. For miles the country 
 was covered with men in the dress of the 
 common Orangwoks, only dirtier, who were 
 engaged in the work of procuring gold. We 
 hardly stopped, but pushed on rapidly until 
 we reached the town of Watara. This was 
 the place where most of the miners lived. 
 Here they had their houses, such of them, at 
 least, as possessed houses ; here, at any rate, 
 most of them lived. Watdrd, named after 
 the gold-bearing country, was a large town, 
 the largest, indeed, in the kingdom of 
 Orangwok. There were fully 10,000 miners 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 I2I 
 
 living here, and quite 3000 women and 
 children, besides the governor’s staff of 
 guards, by which order was duly maintained. 
 Altogether, the population could not be much 
 less than 15,000. 
 
 The first night was spent in the governor’s 
 quarters, and on the next day, the old chief 
 took me with him on a tour of inspection 
 over the digging country. It is unnecessary 
 to describe this country, farther than by 
 saying that it consisted of hills and valleys, 
 and was evidently formed by some volcanic 
 eruption. The gold was found principally in 
 the valleys, and on the sides of the hills. It 
 was picked out of the surface to a depth of 
 two or three feet. There had been no attempt 
 to sink holes — no attempt to wash the soil. 
 This at once showed me that there was a 
 capital field for the exercise of the knowledge 
 I had gained on the Australian diggings. I 
 remarked this to my companion, who had 
 never opened his lips since we had left his 
 camp, or quarters. 
 
 “ It will be well for you, if it is as you say. 
 Words should not be like the wind.” 
 
 This was said in an ominous tone of voice, 
 and did not restore my confidence in the old 
 tyrant. I said no more, but on reaching the 
 quarters of the governor, said, — 
 
122 
 
 AdventiLres in New G^tinea. 
 
 “ Give me wood and tools, and I will prove 
 my words.” 
 
 I had resolved to make a “ long Tom,” 
 such as I had seen in Victoria. 
 
 On the hills we had visited, the men were 
 picking out gold nuggets of various sizes — 
 the small gold was entirely lost. I saw that 
 the soil which was thus thrown aside, was 
 full of fine gold-dust, not that I could actually 
 see the gold in the earth, but I knew from 
 my knowledge of gold-digging that such was 
 the case, that where there were such rough 
 pieces there would be plenty of fine gold. 
 Hence my idea of the “ long Tom,” for I 
 proposed to carry this earth and wash it in 
 the river below, by means of the apparatus I 
 was making. Several rough pieces of wood 
 were brought, by some assistants, placed at 
 my disposal, and, with the help of the flint 
 tools, I succeeded in knocking up a “ long 
 Tom ” composed of three compartments, and 
 having a fine sieve made of twisted grass or 
 hemp. The old chief came every day to look 
 at my work ; so, too, did my young friend, 
 the officer of the troop, and he gave me a 
 hint that the former was by no means too 
 well affected towards me. 
 
 “ However,” he said, “ your life is quite 
 safe, for he would not dare to harm you if 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 123 
 
 you are successful in your undertaking, as I 
 am sure you will be.” 
 
 “ And how long must I remain here,” I 
 asked, “ if I succeed in what I have promised 
 to do ? ” 
 
 “ That depends, to some extent, upon the 
 governor. You see he can send what report 
 he likes about you, and if it suits him to keep 
 you here, he may endeavour to do so. Have 
 you any friends in K’ootar ? ” 
 
 “ Yes, old Kayhar is my friend.” The 
 name of Lamlam was on my lips. 
 
 “ Well, his influence may be of use to you 
 some day, so do not despair, even if the 
 governor should turn out to be unfavourable 
 to you.” 
 
 After my “ long Tom” was finished, I ex- 
 plained to my young friend how it was intended 
 to act. He understood at once, and took as 
 much interest as myself in proving the success 
 of my scheme. The day following the “ long 
 Tom ” was carried by half-a-dozen Orangwoks 
 to the river under the hill, where much s;ir- 
 face-gold was being obtained. At eight 
 o’clock I informed the governor that all was 
 ready, and begged him to be present. Lanna 
 and several other of the officials also came to 
 watch the proceedings. I had placed the 
 “ long Tom ” on the bank, under a slight fall 
 
124 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 of water, which I had diverted by means of a 
 bark trough into the “ Tom ” itself. I was 
 thus able to keep a steady current running 
 continually through the “ Tom.” Several 
 skins full of the most likely-looking earth, 
 from a spot which I had seen rich in nuggets, 
 were procured and were thrown into the 
 upper compartment, which was about six feet 
 long, and divided from the lower by a ridge 
 of six or eight inches high. I continued to 
 puddle this earth until all the clay had been 
 washed away, and nothing but sand and 
 stones remained. Another supply of earth 
 was brought and treated in the same way, 
 and still another, until I thought that I had 
 had sufficient to give me a very good chance. 
 I now turned the water off and began to pick 
 out the stones. They were all washed per- 
 fectly clean, and as I tossed them out, the 
 governor and my young friend standing close 
 by my side, watching intently every operation, 
 I scanned them carelessly, not expecting to 
 find a nugget in the upper compartment. 
 How great was my surprise and pleasure, 
 therefore, to see a large lump of gold lying 
 among the stones, perfectly bright. I seized 
 it eagerly, and handed it to the old chief, who 
 clutched the valuable mass most greedily. It 
 weighed a pound and a half, I should say. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 125 
 
 After this every stone was examined with 
 care before it was thrown away; but no 
 farther discovery was made. This one find, 
 however, excited my highest hopes, and I 
 now proceeded to wash out the fine sand 
 which had collected in the other compart- 
 ments. As the water carried off every suc- 
 cessive coating of sand, and the layer of each 
 compartment became smaller, I could see 
 occasional gleams of gold, which warned me 
 to proceed with greater caution ; so I now 
 turned off the water a second time, and 
 drawing the attention of the governor and 
 his officials to my movements, drew out the 
 first plug, and scraped all the glittering sand, 
 which was mixed with good coarse gold, into 
 a stone dish. The old chief bent over the 
 “ long Tom ” eagerly, as he saw that the sand 
 was only a thin coating lying on a basis of 
 gold. After repeating this process in the 
 other compartments, and scraping from each 
 one a large quantity of fine gold, I took the 
 dish to the river-side, and washed off the sand 
 very carefully, still watched by the eager 
 eyes of all the officials. At last, to my own 
 surprise and delight, I found that I had 
 about two pounds of fine gold remaining in 
 the dish, which I handed to the governor for 
 inspection. He was amazed at the result, 
 
126 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 and could not trust the evidence of his senses. 
 He required me to wash out some more soil, 
 which I did, he superintending the collection 
 of every skinful of earth, to see that no gold 
 was intentionally mixed with it. Again the 
 same px^ocess, and again a similar result, only 
 this time there was no nugget among the 
 stones, and a smaller quantity of gold in the 
 “ Tom.” I explained to him that the quantity 
 of gold would differ at times, as the yield de- 
 pended entirely upon the quality of the soil 
 for gold-producing purposes ; but that what- 
 ever of fine gold the earth contained was 
 collected in the manner that I had shown 
 him. He was satisfied with the result, and 
 was now exceedingly civil to me, asking me 
 to dine with him, which I was glad to do, as 
 it was now noon and I was very hungry. 
 
 The old chief kept a good table, as we 
 Europeans would say, and had fowl, fish, 
 yams, and ince laid before me (for he did not 
 dine himself). He gave me also plenty of 
 eu to drink. His present kindness relieved 
 my mind of some of the anxieties which the 
 young officer’s words had aroused within me, 
 and towards evening my friend reassured me 
 completely by saying, — 
 
 “ You are quite safe now. I shall report 
 all that you have done to the king and to 
 
Adventures in New Gtmiea. 127 
 
 vour friends. Your services are too valuable 
 to be lost.” 
 
 In a few weeks Lanna was required to 
 start for K’ootar in charge of a quantity of 
 gold which was ready for transmission, so he 
 came to me to become the bearer of any 
 message I wished to send, and to bid me 
 good-bye. It occurred to me to write a few 
 words to Lamlam, hoping that she might be 
 able to read them, or at least that she mi ght 
 learn to spell them out. After writing a few 
 lines, I asked him to deliver the bamboo in 
 which I had deposited the paper to Lamlam, 
 and bade him good-bye. With a word of 
 warning in my ear he was gone. 
 
128 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea, 
 
 CHAPTEB XV. 
 
 As it is not my intention to give a full 
 account of my digging experience, I shall 
 here say that I remained nearly five mono- 
 tonous years at Watara, and might have been 
 there to this day had it not been for the 
 energy and affection of my friends. The 
 digging life was not by any means a desirable 
 one. The miners spent all they earned in 
 gambling (strange how this vice exists as 
 much among savages as in the midst of the 
 highest civilization !), and lived generally a 
 miserable life, brawling and fighting. The 
 governor, as this tended to the increase of 
 his power, did not discourage this state of 
 things, so that very few of those who came 
 to the mines ever returned again to K’ootar. 
 They could do so, on their obtaining a 
 certain amount of gold, proportioned to the 
 crime which they had committed, but not 
 otherwise. As the men got accustomed to 
 the reckless life of Watard, they lost all 
 desire to return, and the great majority spent 
 
OS! gif! OPt set 
 
 LO NCtTU DE 1^0 £AST FROM 1^5 CREENWt CH ISO 
 

 
Adventures in New Giunea. 129 
 
 the remainder of their days in this territory. 
 Some of them committed further crimes, 
 viz. hid or stole the king’s gold. In this 
 case, if they were convicted, most terrible 
 was the fate which awaited them. They 
 wei’e exposed in trees, sometimes being 
 allowed to starve to death ; at others, being 
 regularly fed, and kept alive to be the prey 
 of snakes and birds. If any one attempted 
 to recover his liberty by escaping, he simply 
 lost his life; either he was starved upon 
 the mountain range, or he was destroyed in 
 the terrible valley of the serpents. The 
 monotony of the life at Watara was broken 
 occasionally by an overflow of the Irfak, the 
 river that I have mentioned, or by an out- 
 break of the nearest volcanic mountain. I 
 had an experience of each of these while I 
 was at Watar^. But to resume, I was at 
 first constantly employed in directing the 
 making of “long Toms” and cradles, as it 
 had been resolved to bring them into general 
 x;se. Further, I taught the miners to sirdi 
 holes, in order to obtain the precious metal, 
 and I was fortunate enough to be successful 
 in my first shaft. This success improved 
 my position immensely, and brought me into 
 still greater favour with the old chieftain. 
 The country was exceedingly rich in the 
 
 K 
 
130 Advenhives in New Guinea. 
 
 precious ore. It was found in every direction, 
 and in large quantities. I have picked up, 
 after a heavy fall of rain, a piece of gold 
 from the surface weighing, I am certain, fifty 
 pounds. One day I was sitting upon a piece 
 of quartz cropping above the surface; this 
 stone had been used for a resting-place for 
 months ; on this occasion I began to beat it 
 with my flint hammer, and a large piece of 
 the reef flew off, exposing a mass of gold 
 embedded in the quartz. Here was a new 
 field for my operations, so, breaking off a 
 large lump of the rock, which was spotted 
 with gold, I took it to the governor, and 
 showed it to him, explaining the difficulty of 
 obtaining the gold from the stone, but asking 
 his permission to try (which was readily 
 granted). I got several pieces of quartz, 
 veined thickly with gold, and tided to break 
 them to small grains. After destroying 
 several flint hammers in my attempts, I 
 found I had made very little progress ; so, 
 resolving to try the effects of fire, I put the 
 quartz into a kiln, heated to a great degree 
 of heat, and kept this fire up for several 
 days, as I had known men engaged in burn- 
 ing limestone do. When I found the quartz 
 was pulverized, and the gold melted, I let 
 the fire go out, and I obtained several pounds 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 of gold from the cold ashes. All this, of 
 course, took time, yet the life I lived was 
 monotonous enough, except when it was 
 varied by a fishing or a hunting expedition, 
 which was rather frequent, as there were 
 abundance of fish in the Irfak, and we were 
 dependent upon the river and the forest for 
 a large portion of our food supply. Eice 
 was grown, and yams, and other vegetables 
 were plentiful, besides such fruits as are 
 common to tropical climates — cocoa-nuts, 
 dates, and raisins. The first year of my stay 
 at Wat^rd I had been appointed, by the 
 governor, overseer of all the mines, and a 
 part of my duty, in this capacity, was to 
 receive and account for all gold that was 
 procured. I was in the habit of keeping 
 memoranda for my own pleasure of the gold 
 that was collected frem the mines. I men- 
 tion this as it was of use to me afterwards. 
 About the middle of the second year I was 
 displaced from my position, which was taken 
 by one of the governor’s own creatures, and 
 I myself^ was put to employment of a less 
 responsible character. I understood this 
 change to mean that I was no longer in the 
 governor’s favour, although how I had 
 offended him I do not know. At the end of 
 two years, a little incident occurred which 
 
132 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 ^ave me much pleasure. The officer in 
 command of one of the troops, arriving from 
 K’ootar, brought me a neat head-dress, which 
 had been committed to his care by old 
 Kayhar, the chief. It was to be given into 
 my own hands, he said. I felt that I owed 
 this little attention to Lamlam, and was 
 greatly pleased by it. Another two years 
 passed away, making four years of banish- 
 ment from K’ootar. I knew now that I was 
 under the displeasure of the governor, yet 
 did not know the reason. During these two 
 latter years, several events occurred to break 
 in upon the dull routine of our life ; one 
 was an eruption of the volcano on one of 
 the spurs of Tannavorkoo. For some days 
 before the eruption, the atmosphere was dull 
 and heavy, and towards evening the sky 
 became lurid and dark, blotting out the stars. 
 Soon after we saw the bright flames shoot up 
 to the height of several hundred feet from 
 the ci*ater. This was repeated many times, 
 for several days after which the crater began 
 to discharge its molten flood, which ran for 
 miles over the country, doing a vast amount 
 of injury, and causing the loss of many lives. 
 A great panic fell upon the population of 
 Watard, as the lava threatened to reach the 
 town itself. Shortly after this event, the 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 133 
 
 overflow of the Irfak occurred, which 
 threatened to destroy the town. As I have 
 mentioned before, the Irfak is formed by a 
 confluence of many tributary streams, and 
 attains a considerable width almost as soon 
 as it issues from the mountain. It is thus 
 exposed to sudden overflows, some of them 
 of a dangerous nature, for whenever the 
 snow begins to melt, the torrents run down 
 the sides of the great water-shed, and, 
 rushing into the channel of the Irfak, over- 
 flow its banks for fully a mile and a half. 
 The river is thus only crossable with safety 
 at certain times. These risings can rarely 
 be anticipated. The one to which I now 
 refer came on after a week’s heavy rain, 
 followed by a sudden burst of heat. Some 
 of the experienced miners watched the signs 
 with anxiety, and warned their companions 
 of the danger of an overflow. As we were 
 fully twelve miles from the river, we paid too 
 little attention to these warnings, and went 
 to our beds as usual. In the middle of the 
 night I was awakened by a dull, heavy roar, 
 like the rolling of waves upon a distant 
 shore. As the noise continued, I sat up to 
 listen, and could hear distinctly a loud, 
 roaring noise approaching. Immediately I 
 thought of the warnings which had been 
 
134 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 uttered about the overflow of the river, and, 
 springing from my bed, ran outside. It was 
 a clear, moonlight night, most fortunately. 
 Others had been aroused, and a large crowd 
 was in the street ; some ran backwards and 
 forwards, crying out that the spirit of Tan- 
 navorkoo was coming ; others stood, like 
 myself, watching the southern approaches to 
 the city. There was no time to escape, for 
 I had heard that a flood travels swifter than a 
 horse could gallop. The governor’s troop, 
 however, were ordered out, and directed to 
 escape to the high hills, ten miles beyond 
 Watdrd. All this had occurred in less than 
 fifteen minutes, so at least I should think, 
 for I could not take any note of time under 
 such circumstances. We saw now the long, 
 dark wall of advancing water, coming on 
 with a dull, but deafening roar. Every 
 person escaped to the upper stories of the 
 houses. The highest houses were filled with 
 the poor creatures seeking refuge. When the 
 column of water, which was about six feet 
 high, struck the first row of houses, there 
 was a great crash, and the enemy was upon 
 us, sweeping through the streets, and carry- 
 ing away everything in its fierce flow. Few 
 lives comparatively were lost ; not moi’e 
 than a hundred and fifty persons were 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 135 
 
 drowned, and these would not have been 
 sacrificed if they had not insisted upon trying 
 to save their property from the rushing flood. 
 There had been several previous overflows, 
 but this was the worst that had been ever 
 experienced. It occasioned a great loss of 
 property, and all mining was suspended for 
 a long time. This overflow took place in the 
 third year of my captivity, and, following 
 close upon the eruption of the volcano, 
 quickened my desire to escape. 
 
 I have mentioned the fact that we some- 
 times went upon hunting expeditions. With 
 the account of one such expedition, which 
 was the most strange that I have ever heard 
 of, I will conclude this portion of my adven- 
 tures in Watdra. 
 
 The governor punished his criminals, as 
 has been noted, by chaining them in high 
 trees, near the valley of the boa-constrictors, 
 leaving them generally to die of starvation 
 and fear, or from the attacks of snakes and 
 eagles. These terrible punishments were of 
 frequent occurrence, for the Orangwoks have 
 no sense of the value of life, nor have they any 
 sympathy with human suffering. One ele- 
 ment in the sufferings of these poor captives, 
 was the fear that the dreaded serpent of the 
 valley would come forth and attack them, 
 
136 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 winding its teri’ible coils around the body, 
 and crushing the trembling wretch to death. 
 None had been ever known to leave this 
 valley until the occasion now referred to. 
 "Word was brought that an immense boa had 
 escaped from the pass, and had travelled 
 down a distance of ten miles toward Watara, 
 drawn, as was supposed, by the presence of 
 the criminals in the trees. Whatever was 
 the cause, here was one of these huge reptiles 
 on the high road, and it might at any time 
 come on to Watara itself. So it was resolved 
 to form a hunting party, and attack the 
 beast. Many a brave heart quailed at the 
 idea, but a large party was formed, of which 
 I was one, well armed with spears, swords, 
 and bows and arrows. This forlorn hope 
 was followed by a numerous army of be- 
 holders, ready to assist, in the event of the 
 reptile being killed by us, and equally 
 ready to run away in the event of his 
 being victorious. We started from Watara 
 about eight o’clock, hoping to arrive at the 
 object of our foray about ten or eleven 
 o’clock, and to catch him taking his midday 
 nap. After crossing the Irfak, we turned 
 into the highway, and proceeded with great 
 caution, for the monster might have already 
 made a nearer approach to the town. In 
 about half an hour we halted, and resolved 
 
Advcniiircs in New Guinea. 137 
 
 to send out a couple of scouts. As there 
 was some hesitation about volunteers, I 
 offered to become one, and was accepted. 
 
 The reader may be sure that I moved on 
 with great care, scanning narrowly every 
 tree, and examining every bush lest our 
 enemy might lie concealed in it. In an- 
 other half-hour, we reached a high ti*ee, 
 where criminals were frequently chained. 
 Its limbs, which spread out in all directions, 
 were of a straggling nature. After slightly 
 glancing at its stem, and its branches, we 
 prepared to ride on under the tree; but my 
 little pony beginning to tremble and snort, I 
 warned my companion that there was some- 
 thing near. 
 
 “ It is the skeletons,” he said ; “ the pony 
 is afraid to pass the bones of men.” 
 
 There seemed to be reason in this, so I 
 tried to force her gently past the tree. Again 
 she snorted, and ran back, trembling 
 violently. I could not understand this, and 
 looked up again to the tree, to examine it 
 more carefully. As I did so, I met the eyes 
 of the terrible serpent fixed upon me, not 
 more than ten feet above my head. It was 
 approaching me with subtle movements. I 
 thought of the stories I had heard of snakes 
 fascinating those who came within reach of 
 them, and began to feel that I was lost. 
 
Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 ]\Iy pony too could not move, and the brute’s 
 head was swinging 'itself nearer to me. His 
 neck and head were hanging from a high 
 bi’anch, and looked for all the world like a 
 loose limb hanging from the upper pai’t of 
 the tree, his folds being hidden in the midst 
 of the green leaves. 
 
 As the serpent oscillated to and fro, it 
 found that it had not sufficient length of 
 neck to reach either myself or the pony, and 
 began therefore to shake out a reef, as we 
 sailors would say. This action disturbed 
 the leaves, and shook them down in dozens 
 to the ground. My companion, now seeing 
 my condition, came to my help, catching 
 hold of the pony’s head, and leading her 
 beyond the snake’s influence. I had felt 
 paralyzed, and should, I fear, have perished, 
 had it not been for the assistance of my 
 companion. We now rode back to the troop, 
 and informed them of our discovery. All at 
 once pressed on to attack the monster. On 
 our return he was coiled around the upper 
 limbs of the tree, beyond our reach — an 
 immense brute. The Orangwoks kept at a 
 respectful distance from the enemy, who took 
 no further notice than that of fixing his 
 keen, bright-looking eyes upon us. I confess, 
 after my late experience, 1 did not care to 
 
Advenhtres in New Giunea. 
 
 139 
 
 get into too close quarters. The thing was 
 beyond our reach ; what was to be done ? 
 We could not watch here until it came down. 
 Could we not get it down by stratagem ? 
 This was suggested, on which it was resolved 
 to tie an old pony under the tree, in sight of 
 the boa. I commiserated the fate of the un- 
 fortunate pony. Not so the Orangwoks, 
 they had no sympathy with pain or suffering 
 in any form. One of the followers who was 
 at a distance Avas compelled to dismount, and 
 give up his little horse to the officer in com- 
 mand of fhe troop. She was then led under 
 the tree and tied to its stem by one of the 
 volunteers. 
 
 This being done, we Avaited with our spears 
 couched. Several of our number had been 
 using their arrows, but without success, as 
 the folds of the reptile were well concealed 
 in the leaves, and those who shot at him 
 were not good marksmen. Presently we saw 
 the beast uncoiling itself, and swinging his 
 head and neck towards the place occupied by 
 the pony, who now began to snort and 
 tremble greatly. After an unsuccessful at- 
 tempt to reach his victim, the boa still further 
 uncoiled itself, and began to descend. It was 
 now level with the pony’s back, the poor crea- 
 ture being paralyzed in every limb with fear. 
 
140 Advcnhires in New Gtiinea. 
 
 We waited until it had taken several eoils 
 around the pony, and then rushed on. I had 
 dismounted, distrusting, from my previous 
 experience, the little horse I rode. As we 
 all charged in upon the beast, several of 
 those who were mounted were carried on one 
 side beyond the boa, several stopped short, 
 and I found myself alone close upon it. I 
 could see its baleful eyes, and hear its 
 breathing, and felt a most unpleasant sensa- 
 tion. < Nevertheless I lifted my spear and 
 drove it through its thick body. Before I 
 had time to make a second attack, the serpent 
 had uncoiled its head, and began to attack 
 me, the pony falling down upon the ground 
 from fright. My sensations are not to be 
 described. I ran back, and found myself 
 rapidly followed by the fearful serpent, and, 
 to make matters worse, the troop made off 
 at full speed, screaming aloud. I gave 
 myself over for lost ; but as I had a good 
 start of the reptile, I did not lose heart. 
 There was a small stream (one of the tri- 
 butaries of the Irfak) directly in my path, 
 about twelve feet wide and four or five feet 
 deep. As the boa was now gaining on me 
 (indeed I might as well try to outrun a zebra), 
 I determined to take to the water. I reached 
 the bank as the quick strokes of the terrible 
 creature seemed at my back. I fancied 
 
Adventures in New Gtdnea. 141 
 
 I could feel hia Lot breath upon my 
 neck. I sprang at once into the water, and 
 dived, swimming under the surface some 
 distance. I knew that serpents often swam 
 in the water, and did not therefore expect to 
 escape by merely getting into the stream. 
 The fact is, it was my only chance of escape 
 to dive as I did out of sight. 
 
 After I had been down fully a minute, I 
 raised my head, and was conscious of a loud 
 lashing of the water. I saw also the head 
 of an alligator or crocodile. “ Out of the 
 frying-pan into the fire,” I thought, strangely 
 enough, at such a moment, and made again 
 for the bank, the loud splashing continuing. 
 On my reaching the bank, half expecting to 
 find the boa waiting for me, I was surprised 
 to see nothing of it. On my looking towards 
 the water, which was beaten into foam, I 
 beheld a sight which transfixed me with 
 astonishment. The boa was engaged in 
 deadly conflict with a vast crocodile. Its 
 tail was wound round the Stem of a strong 
 tree on the bank, and several of its folds 
 were coiled around the saurian reptile. I 
 half thought of cutting the serpent’s tail, 
 yet, after my late experience, decided that 
 it was wiser to leave it alone. I have since 
 found that it would have been a good thing 
 to have cut the tail off, as it would have 
 
142 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 weakened the serpent considerably. I 
 hastened back to the main road, and when I 
 appeared my companions were astonished 
 to see me come back safe and whole. 
 They crowded round me while I told them 
 how I had escaped, and of the fight between 
 the crocodile and the boa. Again we deter- 
 mined to advance to attack the reptile, but 
 resolved to wait until he had swallowed his 
 victim, after which, it was said, he would 
 sleep. Some of our company were told off 
 to watch, and the rest of us sheltered our- 
 selves from the burning heat of the tropical 
 sun. After he had eaten the crocodile, he 
 coiled himself up to sleep, and while in this 
 condition we attacked him, and I am thank- 
 ful to say, without loss of life, killed the 
 great brute, and cut off its wrinkled head. 
 The snake measured seventeen yards in 
 length. I do not wish to take part in 
 another such hunt while my life lasts. The 
 remembrance ’of this one is even now full 
 of painful and unpleasant sensations. We 
 returned to Watdra with flying colours, and 
 celebrated our victory with the beating of 
 drums. I was the hero of the day, and was 
 held in greater honour by all the Orangwoks, 
 in consequence of the part 1 had taken. So 
 ended my boa hunt. 
 
Adventures in Nezu Guinea, 
 
 ^43 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 In iny recontre wifcli the boa-constrictor, 
 described in the last chapter, I had been 
 handled rather roughly, and had my clothes 
 torn ; my hat or cap, for it was like the head- 
 dress usually worn by the Orangwoks, had 
 been injm’ed and ripped slightly. On my 
 getting back to my home, I overhauled it for 
 the purpose of repairing. I was unwilling that 
 a memento of my friends should be destroyed. 
 The cap was the one sent to me by Kayhar. 
 As I was examining it I was surprised to see 
 through the rip a piece of paper. Immediately 
 I thrust in my fingers, and pulled out a long 
 sheet of foolscap with writing on it. I now 
 recalled the fact to mind, that I had noticed 
 when I first received the head-dress that 
 it contained some substance within which 
 crackled as I handled it ; but I had concluded 
 that something had been put into the hat to 
 stiffen it. I spread out the paper with eager, 
 trembling hands, for I know it was a com- 
 munication from Lamlam, and with some 
 
144 Adventures in Neza Gziinea. 
 
 difficulty made out tlie following words, wliicli 
 sent a thrill of delight through me and raised 
 my highest hopes. Of course the communica- 
 tion was not in English, but the following is 
 a fair rendering of the words : — 
 
 “ Lamlam salutes her friend Tregan. Your 
 words came to me, 0 my friend ! many moons 
 ago, but Lamlam could not hear them, 
 because she was without knowledge. But the 
 'friendship ” (a better word would, I think, 
 be love) “ which she has for Tregan made her 
 hearken diligently ” (try to learn), “ and now 
 the words of Tregan have spoken to her, and 
 have made her heart glad. 0 my friend ! 
 Lamlam would like to look upon your face. 
 She never forgets the morning that Tregan 
 went to the hills. My father, Kayhar, has 
 been raised to the dignity of the wise men, 
 and sits in the dark room. He is Tregan’s 
 friend, and now the king has consented that 
 you, 0 my friend ! shall return to K’ootar. 
 An order from the king to the governor is 
 taken by the troops. In another moon 
 Lamlam will look upon the face of Tregan 
 and will be glad. Farewell ! ” 
 
 Alternate feelings occupied my mind on 
 reading this document. It had been written 
 two years ago, and yet I was at Watara, 
 having never heard one word of any order 
 
Adventures in New Gtnnea. 145 
 
 that I was to return to K’ootar. I was con- 
 strained to feel that I was in the power of the 
 old tyrant, who was keeping me here for some 
 reasons of his own. 
 
 Poor little Lamlam ! Two years had she 
 been waiting to look upon my face, and had 
 waited in vain. I was now no nearer to 
 K’ootar than when she wrote. On a careful 
 consideration of all the circumstances of my 
 position, I came to the conclusion that the 
 old chief had some strong motive for wishing 
 to keep me at Watara, and that I could only 
 escape by proceeding with great care and 
 caution. He had at his command two 
 thousand soldiers, and could, if he occupied 
 the Monakim passes, make himself entirely 
 free of K’ootar. TVhether such was his in- 
 tention I could not say, yet the thought 
 occurred to me as I deliberated on these 
 circumstances. 
 
 If the king had sent an order for my release, 
 and I could not doubt that he had, it seemed 
 very much like an act of rebellion that I was 
 still kept by the old chief in captivity ; and I 
 knew that if he felt it to be necessary to his 
 own safety that I should be made away with, 
 he would not hesitate a moment about sacri- 
 ficing my life. This resolved me to act with 
 the utmost caution. My first step was to 
 
 L 
 
1 46 
 
 Adventures in New Giiinea. 
 
 write a letter to Lamlam explaining my 
 position, but bow was I to send this com- 
 munication? I bad for tbe last two years 
 been kept out of tbe way of tbe escort on one 
 pretence or another, and, moreover, could not 
 ask one of tbe officers in command to take 
 my communication for me witbout tbe old 
 chief’s consent, which I felt would not be 
 given. I resorted to tbe following strata- 
 gem : — First, I obtained the governor’s con- 
 sent to my sending a small present to Kaybar 
 in token of my appreciation of his past kind- 
 ness to me. I then, with great difficulty, 
 divided a gold nugget into two pieces, and, 
 filing out tbe inside, made room for a short 
 letter, which I then squeezed in, afterwards 
 fastening tbe two sides of tbe nugget with a 
 kind of cement. This done, tbe gold looked 
 as natural as if it bad just been washed out 
 of tbe “ long Tom.” It was, however, only 
 a matter of time for the cement to dissolve 
 and tbe pieces to separate, on which my letter 
 would appear. I now rubbed and polished 
 tbe gold as for an ornament, and, putting it 
 into a piece of bamboo, took it to tbe governor. 
 After examining it closely, be allowed me, in 
 bis presence, to give this to tbe officer in 
 command of tbe troop. When tbe escort had 
 passed out of the town on their return to 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 147 
 
 K’ootar, I began to breathe more freely, and 
 to hope that my rme would bring me freedom. 
 I determined, however, that I would not 
 depend upon one shot, that I would try again 
 and again. 
 
 Thus several months passed, and I heard 
 nothingmorefrom K’ootar ; foralthough Ihad 
 determined to be on the look-out, yet I was 
 generally out of the way when the escort 
 arrived and departed. After aboutfour months 
 had elapsed I was sent away as usual to a 
 distant part of Watara ; but feeling sure that 
 some communication would arrive, I resolved 
 to return and visit the escort’s quarters. This 
 I did in the night-time. The first person I 
 spoke to was Lanna, my old friend, who was 
 overjoyed to see me. After some mutual 
 inquiries of a personal natui’e, 1 explained to 
 him my position, and gave expression to my 
 fear that I had not been treated fairly by the 
 governor. Lanna seemed to feel the gravity 
 of the communication I had made to him, 
 and confirmed my fears by saying that he had 
 also understood that an order for my release 
 had been sent to the governor two years ago ; 
 but he had been further told that I had 
 preferred to stay at the gold territory, and 
 as this was a common experience, nobody was 
 surprised at it, although he said some of my 
 
148 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 friends, especially those who had interested 
 themselves in my favour, were very much 
 grieved at my decision. 
 
 I now explained to him that I was acting 
 in disobedience to my instructions in return- 
 ing to the town, and prayed him not to 
 mention the fact of my visit to his quarters. 
 This he readily promised to do, and also said 
 he would render me any assistance which lay 
 in his power. 
 
 “ What can be the governor’s reasons ? ” 
 he asked. “ Have you offended him ? ” 
 
 “Hot in any way that I am aware of.” 
 
 “ The gold-yield has fallen off very much 
 latterly, that may be the reason,” he added. 
 
 “ Fallen off — impossible ! ” I exclaimed ; 
 “ it was never so large.” 
 
 “ Tregan, be careful what chai’ges you 
 make,” he replied, standing up. “ I am your 
 friend and will not, therefore, take any notice 
 of your rash words. Yet, do not repeat them, 
 for it would subject you to a terrible death, 
 to make such a charge as your words imply 
 against a chief.” 
 
 “ Lanna, my friend, I do not care. I repeat, 
 the mines never yielded so much as they have 
 done these last two years. Even the year of 
 the flood the yield was greater than on the 
 previous years. I kept an account of all gold 
 
Adventures in New Guinea, 149 
 
 received for some time, and know pretty 
 correctly wkat was raised out of the earth.” 
 
 Lanna became very serious and thoughtful 
 at this, and at last, after deliberating for a 
 time said : — 
 
 “ You say you kept an account of the gold 
 returns for a year. Have you that account ? 
 Let me see it.” 
 
 “It is at my house, but I remember the 
 amount ; ” and I told him. 
 
 He was struck with amazement, and said 
 in a subdued voice, not more than two-thirds 
 of that amount ever reached the king’s 
 treasury. 
 
 “ Tregan, there is something wrong, and 
 I see now the reason of your being kept here. 
 I will deliver you. But do you leave me and 
 return to your post. Come to me again in 
 seven days, and I will advise you what I have 
 resolved upon. We must proceed with cau- 
 tion, for the governor is powerful ; yet the 
 king shall not be robbed of his own.” 
 
 I returned to my post twenty miles beyond 
 Watara, and waited anxiously for the week to 
 pass. At the end of that time I again met 
 Lanna at the place appointed, which was out- 
 side of the town, lest our movements should 
 be watched. He had decided to take me back 
 to K’ootar on his own authority, “ but,” ho 
 
150 Advenhtres in New Guinea. 
 
 said, “ you must yourself join us beyond tlie 
 Irfak, near tlie valley of tbe serpents. I 
 leave Watard in two days.” 
 
 After be bad undertaken to obtain my 
 pajDers for me and my Bible — tbe only book 
 I bad, for I bad left tbe “ Pilgrim’s Progress ” 
 with Lamlam — we separated. 
 
 I was now greatly excited, and in bigb 
 hopes that I should return to K’ootar. I in- 
 dulged in agreeable visions of the future, and 
 saw myself at one time a great chief in tbe 
 kingdom of Tannavorkoo ; at another, return- 
 ing to my home laden with wealth and fame. 
 
 On tbe third day 1 sent my men to another 
 part of W atara, directing them to remain there 
 several days, and I myself rode on to the Irfak. 
 
 I reached it before nightfall ; as I had had 
 to make a wide detour in order to avoid those 
 engaged in digging operations — even as it * 
 was I was seen by several of the miners. 
 After crossing the Irfak I rode quickly to the 
 serpent valley, which I reached before the sun 
 had set, and took a farewell look at the 
 terrible opening. One of the troop was wait- 
 ing for me according to agreement, the others 
 having gone on through the narrow pass. 
 My guide showed me the concealed entrance, 
 and led the way through it. Lanna and his 
 troop were waiting on tbe other side, on the 
 
Advenhires in New Gtiinea. 151 
 
 large plain of whicli I spoke in my account of 
 tke descent from tlie mountain. It was 
 resolved to halt here for the night, and to 
 proceed before dawn towards Tannavorkoo. 
 I should not feel at my ease until I had 
 placed the mountain between Watard. and 
 myself. The cold was intense, and the narrow 
 paths were slippery and dangerous. We, 
 however, passed over to K’ootar without any 
 accident worth noticing. The rotting remains 
 of criminals were still hanging in the high 
 trees by the roadside, and great birds soared 
 about over the revolting spectacle. When 
 we arrived at a certain point in our descent, 
 K’ootar stood out before us, distant about 
 fifty miles. Several other towns could also 
 be seen, and as the weather on the plain was 
 about equal to spring-time in France, we had 
 a very agreeable view of everything. The 
 numerous forests, dotting the vast plateau 
 like so many parks, while here and there, as 
 if between the rifts of clouds, were towns 
 and cultivated land, making an agreeable 
 diversity. We were at this point too far 
 down to see the lake on the lower level. 
 We were glad to reach the plateau, as the 
 cold on Tannavorkoo Avas very great, and 
 the keen wind swept up its sides, increasing 
 our discomfort considerably. 
 
152 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 Next day we should be at K’ootar, and I 
 felt some amount of trepidation and excite- 
 ment in the thought that I should see 
 Lamlam and Kayhar again after the lapse of 
 so many years. We rose in haste early the 
 next morning, and lost no time before reach- 
 ing the gates of K’ootar. This we did about 
 three o’clock in the afternoon. A great 
 change was evident. People laughed and 
 talked without restraint, turning and staring 
 at us in good homely style. 
 
 What was the meaning of all this? 
 
Adventiires in New Guinea. 
 
 153 
 
 CHAPTEE XVII. 
 
 The king had gone to his winter residence in 
 the plain, and many of his nobles or chiefs 
 had gone with him, hence the great change 
 which I had seen in the people’s behaviour. 
 They were not under the same constraint as 
 formerly. We rode on through the main 
 street to the treasury, to deposit the gold 
 which we escorted. Lanna then invited me 
 to his home, to remain until further arrange- 
 ments had been made respecting me. A 
 number of chiefs crowded round us eagerly 
 welcoming me back to K’ootar, and inviting 
 me to stay at their houses. As I had already 
 accepted the invitation of Lanna, I firmly 
 declined all other invitations for the present, 
 and departed with my friend. I was eager 
 to call upon Kayhar, and may as well confess 
 that I was no less eager to look upon the 
 face of Lamlam. In explanation of this, let 
 it be remembered that human sympathy is 
 always dear to man, and especially under such 
 
154 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 circumstances as those in which I was placed. 
 Besides, Lamlam was not black by any means, 
 she was fairer than any of the Orangwoks, 
 and they were usually of a dark olive com- 
 plexion. She was also intelligent, and 
 possessed of such gentle kindness. I owed 
 my liberty to her and her father, and had 
 thought continually of her kindness for the 
 last four or five months. Let those who feel 
 inclined to condemn my feelings towards 
 Lamlam, just place themselves in my position, 
 an outcast from all civilized life, and their 
 judgment will, I am sure, be greatly modified. 
 
 So soon as I could do so, I asked my 
 friend’s permission to visit Kayhar, and this 
 being granted, hurried with a beating heart 
 towards his house. As I neared its entrance, 
 I looked up eagerly for the signs of Lamlam’s 
 presence, for she would be aware by this time 
 that I had returned. I saw none, and felt 
 disappointed. I reached the door and found 
 the matting drawn down firmly, and could 
 obtain no admission. I could not understand 
 this, and was much chagrined. It was a great 
 blow to my hopes and anticipations. I returned 
 to Lanna cast down and heavy at heart. He 
 was absent, but on his return all was ex- 
 plained. The king was on the lower level, 
 and with him were his wise men, the uoo, of 
 
Advenhcres in New Guinea. 155 
 
 Tfliom Kayliar was one. All was explained 
 now, and I felt my spirits rise again. 
 
 Next day, after a consultation with the 
 principal chief in K’ootar, who compared my 
 account of the gold received by me during 
 the first year of my residence at WaMrd with 
 the amount received at the king’s treasury, 
 it was resolved that I should be sent on to the 
 king and his wise men for examination. The 
 matter was very serious, as the deficiency on 
 that year was fully a third of the amount 
 of the gold actually raised. I was nothing 
 loth at this decision, and expressed my 
 willingness to depart at once. On the second 
 day, early in the morning, we entered the 
 great plain, and found the atmosphere most 
 pleasant and agreeable ; for although it was 
 now mid-winter, yet on the lower country 
 the cold was like the warm spring weather 
 which one experiences in Australia or the 
 south of France. The king’s palace, for his 
 house might be called by such a name, was 
 in a beautiful situation, and was surrounded 
 by houses for his wise men, and guard-houses 
 for his troops. The lake was distant about 
 two miles, and was covered, at this season, 
 with elegantly-shaped canoes, ornamented at 
 the stern and stem with ivory and gold, 
 elaborately worked and surmounted by gor- 
 
156 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 geouslj-coloured feathers. To witness the 
 movement of a fleet of these canoes is a very 
 pleasing sight, and charms one with a sense 
 of elegance and refinement which one does 
 not expect to find so far from European 
 civilization. 
 
 While the officer who had accompanied 
 Lanna and myself went to make his report, I 
 was, under Lanna’s guidance, able to visit 
 Kayhar’s house. We had no difficulty in 
 finding it, and I approached it with such 
 feelings as I had before experienced. 
 
 Kayhar was at home, and was about to 
 leave for a consultation with the wise men. 
 He had just been summoned to a council. 
 He was affected to tears when he saw me, 
 and took me by the hand, English fashion, 
 to welcome me. Lamlam had received my pre- 
 sent and had discovered the letter. She had 
 not been well, but was now looking better, 
 and w'ould rejoice to look upon me again. 
 At present she wms at the lake. “ Our uoo 
 will not break up until the sun is down, 
 Tregan can then come to me,” and the old 
 chief left us. Lanna and I resolved to 
 walk to the lake side, to see the Orangwoks 
 in their canoes. I, however, had another 
 reason. On our reaching the shore we sat 
 down upon a rock overlooking the inland 
 
AdvenUires in New Guinea. 157 
 
 sea, and looked over its surface, wliich was 
 dotted witk many large canoes moving about 
 gracefully, like so many vast swans. Lanna 
 here began to rally me about the old chief’s 
 daughter, and said, “ You will have to adopt 
 our customs if you take her for a wife,” 
 
 “ What customs, my friend ? ” 
 
 “ You must become brown like us,” point- 
 ing to his own dark skin, “ and dress like 
 an Orangwok.” 
 
 I had never given up wearing my sailor’s 
 “ ducks,” but had on the last remaining 
 pair, which were in a dilapidated condition. 
 
 “ I shall have to do so directly,” I replied, 
 smiling, “for I have no more European 
 clothes to wear. What other customs must 
 I adopt?” 
 
 “ You must worship Otarbo,” he added, 
 lowering his voice and turning his face from 
 the sun. 
 
 “ That I could not do,” I said, “ I am a 
 Christian, and worship the God who made 
 the sun.” 
 
 “ Explain to me, my friend, for I have 
 often thought of your words on the Tanna- 
 vorkoo.” 
 
 So I endeavoured to explain as well as I 
 could, promising to read to him from my 
 book if he would allow me. I was a little 
 
158 Adveiiht.res in New Guinea. 
 
 depi’essed by this conversation with Lanna, 
 although I hardly knew why. As we rose 
 up from our seats a canoe glided in to the 
 shore, and my friend, catching my arm, said, — • 
 “ Hush, there is Lamlam.” 
 
 My heart sent all its blood to my face as 
 I looked and saw the graceful form of 
 Lamlam springing from the canoe. She 
 was followed by her mother and several 
 other women. I did not care to go forward 
 to speak to them, for I felt all power passing 
 from my body, and in spite of my friend’s 
 lively sallies, as I had not been seen, I 
 moved away, and began to return to the 
 palace. I knew that at least in an hour or 
 so I should see my friends, and speak to 
 them. I went back to Kayhar’s, and 
 remained waiting for his return. As I sat 
 meditating about the strange events and 
 changes in my life, and thinking fondly of 
 Lamlam, the matting entrance was drawn 
 aside, and she entered the room. On seeing 
 me her colour, yes, her colour changed, and 
 she turned back, only for an instant, however, 
 as in the next moment she rushed forward, 
 and I received her into my arms, kissing 
 her repeatedly. “ Oh ! Tr^gan, my friend, 
 my heart is glad, welcome back to Lamlam ! ” 
 I confess I never felt so happy in all my 
 
Adventures in New Gtnnra. 159 
 
 life. A new and indescribable sensation 
 came over me. We bad miicli to say to 
 each other. I found that she had patiently 
 devoted herself to study the letters and 
 words I had written out for her, and that 
 on receiving my first letter she had begun 
 to learn how to combine the letters whose 
 sounds I had taught her. It was won- 
 derful to me that she had been able to 
 pick it all up so quickly, for I remember 
 that when I had received some lessons in 
 shorthand, it had taken me many weeks to 
 learn the signs and their sounds, leaving out 
 their various combinations. 
 
 On Kayhar’s return, I was informed that 
 the next morning I was to be presented to 
 the king, and was further to tell my story. 
 
 So next day I was presented, if such a 
 term can describe my attitude before a 
 savage king or chief, for I lay on my 
 stomach before him, while he, through his 
 chiefs, questioned me about Watara and its 
 gold-mines. When I told him of the vast 
 quantities of gold and how it was washed 
 out of the soil, there was a subdued murmur 
 of amazement from all the chiefs and their 
 wives, who were present. Astonishment and 
 indignation filled the breasts of all, the king 
 included, when my story was concluded. It 
 
iCo Adventures in New Guinea, 
 
 wns evident that the governor was a traitor 
 and a rebel, that he had been plundering the 
 king’s treasury, and it was resolved at the 
 meeting of the hoo that he should be 
 punished by being suspended on a tree. 
 One old experienced warrior advised that a 
 troop of horse should be despatched at once to 
 hold the mountain passes. This sage advice 
 was overruled, as it was now mid- winter. It 
 was therefore resolved that any undertaking 
 should be delayed until the winter was over, 
 and that the fact of my return to K’ootar 
 should be carefully concealed. Directions to 
 this effect were given, and I was authorized 
 to remain at the winter palace until the 
 expedition was ready to start. In the mean- 
 time I had determined to ask Kayhar’s 
 consent to my marrying Lamlam, who I was 
 sure would not withhold her own. The old 
 chief expressed his pleasure and happiness, 
 but said that it would be necessary for me 
 to adopt the customs of the Orangwoks, and 
 that on my doing so, leave could be obtained 
 from the king for me to reside in K’ootar. 
 Without further delay I may state at once 
 that at a council of the wise men it was 
 decided that I should, on adopting the 
 customs of the Orangwoks, be raised to the 
 position of a chief of the third degree, after 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. i6i 
 
 wliicli I should be permitted to marry a 
 daughter of one of the chiefs ; but the whole 
 ceremony was to be deferred until the ex- 
 pedition against the Governor of Watara was 
 terminated, for I was to take part in it. I 
 was now anxious that there should be no 
 further delay, and was glad when the time 
 came for the king’s return to the upper 
 plateau. This was the signal for the march 
 of the troops, who had been placed under 
 the command of the old warrior formerly 
 mentioned, with Lanna and myself as lieu- 
 tenants. It was well known that the gover- 
 nor would offer a considerable resistance, as 
 he had now boldly thrown off his allegiance 
 to K’ootar, and stopped the supply of gold. 
 
 Before starting scouts had been sent 
 forward to keep our way clear, and some of 
 these now returned with the alarming in- 
 telligence that the mountain passes were 
 occupied by the rebels, and that it would bo 
 impossible for us to cross to Watara. Every 
 one, now that it was too late to take 
 advantage of it, acknowledged the wisdom 
 of the old warrior’s advice. We were out- 
 manoeuvred by the old rebel, and our case 
 seemed desperate, for no other approach to 
 Watara was known. Out of this difficulty I 
 was able to deliver them. 
 
162 
 
 Adventures in New Gtnnea. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 The occupation of tbe mountain passes by 
 an enemy had never been anticipated by the 
 Orangwoks. They were now completely 
 perplexed by the fact that the gate to 
 Watara was closed, as one of the chiefs 
 expressed it, and there was no other known 
 route, for the range of Tannavorkoo stretched 
 out towards the south until its heights were 
 lost in the far distance. I was, however, 
 satisfied that there was a passage round the 
 southern base of the mountain, and begged 
 permission to seek for a new road to Watara. 
 This permission was granted, and Lanna and 
 myself, accompanied by twelve hardy soldiers, 
 started at once in a southerly direction. 
 This afforded me an opportunity of seeing 
 the lower country and of examining the 
 nature of the animals with which it abounded. 
 At the end of six days’ travel over the 
 plateau skirting the mountain we came to 
 the foot of the Tannavorkoo, and descended 
 into the plain below, as the sides of the 
 
Advenhtres in New Guinea. 163 
 
 mountain itself were too steep to allow us 
 to attempt their ascent equipped as we were. 
 We had no sooner descended into the valley 
 than we found we were trespassing on the 
 territory of another tribe. So we halted, and 
 after a consultation between Lanna and 
 myself we determined to retrace our steps 
 until dark, and then, in the secrecy of the 
 night, to attempt to pass through the 
 territory of the tribe, which did not appear 
 to be numerous. This we did, and passed in 
 the dark in safety beyond the tribe’s con- 
 fines. In half a day we reached a wide, 
 deep river running in a southerly direction, 
 which I named the Tannavorkoo. As the 
 volume of water was very great, I knew it 
 was no use following the course of the river 
 down to find a shallow ford, so I resolved to 
 plunge in and swim over. This was a 
 dangerous proceeding, and my companions, 
 hesitated. I had read of soldiers swimming 
 broad rapid rivers, and had heard it said 
 that there was no danger if you could give 
 the horse its freedom ; so plunging into the 
 water I slipped off the back of the pony and 
 got it by the tail, leaving it otherwise free. 
 The little thing swam capitally, and reached 
 the other side in safety. My companions 
 were encouraged to follow my example, and 
 
164 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 all came safe to land. We had rounded the 
 southern point of the great mountain range ! 
 I pointed out with my sword the way to 
 Watara, not more than six days’ journey 
 from us ; and we decided to continue our 
 survey of the country. On the third day 
 we sighted one of the well-known peaks of 
 the range — the Volcano. I drew Lanua’s 
 attention to this landmark, and he agreed 
 with me that it was unnecessary to push our 
 examination further ; so we began to return, 
 and on the sixteenth day of our leaving 
 K’ootar we re-entered its gates, carrying the 
 glad tidings that a passage had been dis- 
 covered to Watara. A consultation of the 
 iioo was held, and it was concluded to 
 despatch an army without loss of time by 
 the route which had been opened up by 
 Lanna and myself. This army was in 
 command of the old warrior mentioned before, 
 but Lanna and myself were to be advanced 
 to the responsibility of chiefs, and share in 
 his command. Our course lay over the 
 same country which we had travelled three 
 weeks before. It was filled with herds of 
 game. Elk, antelopes, buffaloes, bison, 
 tigers abounded. There were also numbers 
 of kangaroo, an Australian animal, called by 
 Orangwoks “ dop-dop.” On my pointing 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 165 
 
 these out to Lanna, and explaining that I 
 had seen tliem before, he replied, — 
 
 “ I will show you something that you have 
 not seen.” 
 
 And taking me to a thickly-foliaged tree, 
 he showed me the same kind of animal, only 
 smaller, in a bough, of the tree. They were 
 kangaroo, and were feeding upon the leaves. 
 They seemed perfectly at home in the tree, 
 and climbed it with as much ease as opossums. 
 I saw many of the same kind afterwards. 
 The wankoo too were very numerous as we 
 advanced over the plateau. 
 
 We had plenty of sport, and kept ourselves , 
 well supplied in meat. Indeed we depended 
 upon our hunting to supply food for our 
 small army — about two thousand men. This 
 fact, of course, reveals a weak point in the 
 Orangwoks’ mode of warfare ; yet it must 
 be remembered that such an expedition as we 
 were undertaking was altogether unknown 
 to them. It was beyond all their previous 
 experience, and they knew not how to cope 
 with its difficulties. Nature, however, was 
 good to us, and kept us in food. We never 
 wanted for a meal. On the seventh day we 
 came to the borders of the plateau, and were 
 in sight of the camp or village of the savage 
 tribe. Our coming had not been unknown 
 
1 66 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 to them, for we were a large host, and they 
 were determined to give us battle. We 
 halted before descending to the lower level, 
 and endeavoured to treat with them. 
 
 Our attempts were unsuccessful, a flight 
 of arrows warning us that we must be careful 
 in approaching them. We spent the night 
 upon the high level, and prepared for battle. 
 A council of war, held between the three of 
 us, decided that it would be wise to descend 
 to the lower plain before sunrise, and not to 
 make the attempt in the face of a determined 
 enemy ready to dispute our passage. So at 
 three o’clock we began our march downward, 
 the stars our only light. The hill side was 
 very steep, sometimes almost precipitous ; 
 and many a tumble occurred on our passage 
 down. By five o’clock we were on the lower 
 level, drawn up ready to charge our enemies. 
 They were taken by surprise at our un- 
 expected appearance below ; nevertheless, 
 they came on to attack us. 
 
 Forming into three divisions we awaited 
 the first discharge of arrows, feeling sure 
 that they would pass over our heads. We 
 were not deceived. With a great shout the 
 savages twirled their spears and came on. 
 When within a hundred yards they shot 
 their ari'ows at us, but did no harm, nearly 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 167 
 
 the wliole of them passing over our heads. 
 No sooner had they shot their arrows at ns 
 than we charged them with full speed, riding 
 in among the compact mass of negroes, with 
 our spears couched. But for a time they 
 resisted with great bravery, considering the 
 advantages wo had over them. In less than 
 half an hour they were put to flight, leaving 
 nearly fifty men dead upon the field of battle, 
 and a large number of Avounded. Several of 
 our men were killed and a good many 
 injured. I escaped without hurt, although 
 an arrow entered my bamboo headdress, and 
 remained there until the battle was concluded. 
 During the conflict a great savage en- 
 deavoured to Avrench my spear from my 
 hand, but I was as strong as himself, and so 
 successfully held my own against him. He 
 Avould have got the better of me had I not 
 sprung off my pony, Avhich Avas a very easy 
 thing for me to do, for my feet were already 
 nearly on the ground. On reaching the 
 earth I drew my sword Avith my right hand, 
 AA'hile holding the spear Avith my left, and 
 made a lunge at my antagonist. He nimbly 
 avoided the bloAv, twisting the spear round 
 so as to receive the full force of the blow. 
 The spear Avas shivered to pieces, and the 
 Avily negro seized upon the barbed end to use 
 
i68 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea, 
 
 it against myself. I now found that he was 
 a match for me, for he made at me with great 
 fury. I had, however, been taught the use 
 of the foils, and could handle my sword as a 
 Frenchman ought to do ; so that, in the 
 end, cool skill prevailed, and I had the 
 satisfaction of seeing my terrible black enemy 
 lying at my feet in the dust. 
 
 Our victory was followed by a visit from a 
 chief of the Hokshi tribe, who came for the 
 purpose of concluding a peace, and of 
 granting us a passage through the tribe’s 
 land to the Tannavorkoo river. This was a 
 very acceptable result, for we did not wish 
 to fight our way to Watard. 
 
 After coming to an understanding with 
 the Hokshi chieftain, we accepted his invita- 
 tion to remain for the rest of the day with 
 his tribe to witness some of the tribal 
 manoeuvres. It was strange to think how 
 soon our deadliest enemies, who had been 
 doing their best to destroy us, had in half 
 an hour become our warm friends, and were 
 doing their best to amuse us. As the usages 
 of civilized warfare^ were unknown among 
 these savages we did not relax any of our 
 vigilance, while we remained among the 
 Hokshi on friendly terms. 
 
 * Is there such a thing 1 — Ed. 
 
Advenhtres 'in New Guinea. 169 
 
 The next day, as soma as the sun had risen, 
 we began our march towards the river, 
 accompanied by several of the Hokshi chiefs, 
 as we felt more certain that the tribe would 
 not attempt to attack us or intercept us as 
 we marched through the wooded plain, while 
 their chiefs were hostages in our hands. 
 Before reaching the Tannavorkoo river, how- 
 ever, w’e dismissed our newly-found friends, 
 and continued our march alone. On reaching 
 the river banks, where the depth and width 
 of the water were apparent to the Orangwoks, 
 there was considei’able trouble in getting 
 them to attempt the crossing. Lantia and 
 myself plunged in, followed by several of the 
 troop which had accompanied us previously. 
 Others followed, until nearly one-half had 
 crossed. The remainder hesitated, and at 
 one time I was fearful that we should 
 leave a portion of our little squadron behind 
 us. Before the day closed, however, the 
 whole of the troop had ci’ossed. The 
 difficulty of such a passage warned us that 
 we must lose no time in pushing on to the 
 Irfak, lest by our delay the rebel governor 
 should draw up his army to oppose our 
 passage over that river ; we therefore made 
 forced marches, our hardy little beasts 
 holding out capitally. I do not know what 
 
Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 1 70 
 
 European ponies to compare with them ; 
 they are so hardy, sure-footed, and fleet. 
 By this means, we were able to reach the 
 Irfak on the afternoon of the fourth day. 
 Finding the passage clear, w^e resolved at 
 once to cross over, and did so. At night-fall 
 we w'ere within fifteen miles of Watara. 
 During the night we despatched a trooper to 
 the town to reconnoitre. He returned before 
 day-break, reporting that there were no 
 evidences of any preparation to meet us. 
 AVe were overjoyed at our good luck. It 
 was as I expected ; as the mountain passes 
 were well guarded, the old rebel, not ex- 
 pecting our approach from any other side, 
 had made no preparation to resist an attack. 
 AYe marched as soon as our scout returned, 
 and before nine o’clock we were at the gates 
 of AYatdrd. A hasty defence was thrown up 
 by the rebels, who were not able to concen- 
 trate their forces. As few of the citizens 
 had any sympathy with the old tyrant’s 
 rebellious movement, we received some assist- 
 ance from them. But the best help they 
 rendered us was by keeping out of the way, 
 while we charged down the narrow streets, 
 following the retreating enemy. At every 
 point we were successful, for our foes lost 
 heart at the very outset. I’ hey had been 
 
Advenhires in New Guinea. 171 
 
 completely surprised, and thoiiglit we must 
 have crossed the heights; they supposed, 
 therefore, that reinforcements would im- 
 mediately follow us; that we had the whole 
 strength of the kingdom at our back. When 
 the governor fell into our hands, the struggle 
 at once came to an end. 
 
 The affair can only be described as a 
 skirmish, and only a few lives were lost, 
 although many more were wounded. In less 
 than an hour after our entrance of Watard the 
 rebellion had collapsed. Had it been skil- 
 fully conducted, no power possessed by the 
 king of K’ootar could have extinguished it, 
 and a new and rich kingdom might have 
 been constituted on the western side of the 
 Tannavorkoo. 
 
 The old rebel was forwarded at once to 
 K’ootar over the mountain passes, which 
 were opened to us, the rebel soldiers sur- 
 rendering. He was taken before the lidd, and 
 having been condemned, was chained to one 
 of the tall trees used for the purpose of 
 execution. Here he died a lingering and 
 fearful death, thus tasting something of the 
 sufferings which had been endured by many 
 others at his instance. 
 
172 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 I LOST no time in returning to K’ootar, bid- 
 ding, as it has proved, farewell to Watard for 
 ever. I mentioned in a previous part of this 
 narrative, that it had been resolved that I 
 should, on adopting the customs of the 
 Orangwoks, be raised to the dignity of a 
 chief (of the third order), and allowed to 
 marry a chief’s daughter. In taking the 
 latter step, I do not wish to be misunder- 
 stood. It may to Christians seem a singular 
 thing for a Chiustian man to marry a heathen 
 woman, of a different colour, and to resolve 
 to live among heathen people instead of try- 
 ing to return to civilization. Yet it must be 
 remembered that I had given up any hope of 
 ever escaping from the captivity in which I 
 was held ; and further, that habit accustoms 
 one to everything. I had become, after more 
 than five years’ life among the Orangwoks, 
 accustomed to their ways, and had moreover 
 found them intelligent, and, in their w'ay civil- 
 ized people. But, above all, what resigned 
 
Advenhires in New Guinea. 173 
 
 me to stay among them, was the fact of my 
 having conceived a real affection for Kayhar’s 
 daughter. After-events will prove that she 
 was in every way worthy of the love of one 
 like myself ; that she possessed many quali- 
 ties which would have been highly esteemed 
 even among Europeans. All this will appear 
 as my narrative proceeds. These circum- 
 stances being duly considered, will, I trust, 
 procure a favourable judgment on the step I 
 was about to take; it must be understood, 
 moreover, that I did not renounce my religion 
 as a Christian. I had too often failed to act 
 up to my duty as a professing Christian, yet 
 I never for a moment intended to relinquish 
 that faith. On my return to K’ootar, my 
 proposed marriage with Lamlam was formally 
 sanctioned by the uoo, to whom the intention 
 had to be submitted for their approval. First, 
 however, I had to be received among the 
 Orangwoks, to have my skin stained the 
 same colour as theirs, and to adopt their cos- 
 tume. A house of three stories had been 
 built for me while I was absent in 
 Watara, so that there was now no occasion 
 for further delay on any account. The cere- 
 mony was, therefore, directed to proceed. I 
 was summoned to the priest’s house and 
 required to reside with him for one week. 
 
174 Adventures in New Gtnnea. 
 
 Here, skin was stained witli some juices 
 until it attained a dark colour, successive 
 coatings having been put upon me by the 
 priest’s own hand. This process having been 
 completed, I was clothed in a long but filthy 
 robe, which completely covered me from head 
 to foot, only leaving an opening for my eyes. 
 The priest now put on himself a rich dress 
 covered with ornaments of gold, and directed 
 me to be taken by some of the assisting 
 priests, clothed similarly, only not so gor- 
 geously, to a stream which ran near the 
 sacred grove. Hither I was brought, dis- 
 guised in the filthy robe that I have men- 
 tioned. A large crowd of people were ga- 
 thered about the banks of the stream, consist- 
 ing of both men and women. Drums were 
 beaten, accompanied by such other musical 
 instruments as the people possessed. When 
 the priest arrived, he, standing by my side, 
 delivered an harangue to the people, con- 
 cluding with an address to the sun (or Otaroo), 
 on which all the Orangwoks prostrated them- 
 selves, and repeating the name in subdued 
 tones whenever the priest mentioned it in his 
 address. This was the first instance of a 
 religious service which I had witnessed 
 among the Orangwoks. Such services were 
 more common among the Kakshi, as they 
 
Adventiires hi New Gtiinea. 175 
 
 were more superstitious. Private religious 
 acts there were none among either tribe. 
 Whatever of such services they had were of a 
 public nature, and wore always connected 
 with something which affected the public 
 mind. At Watara there was no priest, and 
 therefore no religious service of any kind. 
 But to proceed, Avhen the priest’s address 
 was concluded— ho looked a very striking 
 figure in his bright dress flashing in the sun, 
 and standing with his hands outspi’ead before 
 the crowd prostrate before him. When he 
 had concluded, two assisting priests de- 
 scended into the Avater, and stationed them- 
 selves ready to receive me. The priest, 
 taking me by the hand, led me to the stream, 
 and, chanting a hymn to Otaroo, Avhose 
 chorus Avas taken up by the people, he cast 
 me into the water as the chorus was being 
 sung. I Avas at once seized by the two 
 priests, and dipped several times under its 
 surface. At each successive immersion the 
 chorus was repeated in louder sti’ains. On 
 the last occasion I Avas kept entirely under 
 Avater until my filthy robe was removed. I 
 Avas then allowed to emerge from my bath — 
 my skin as black as that of any of theirs. 
 AVhen this was seen a loud shout Avas raised, 
 and Otaroo A\'as invocated, all frdling flat 
 
176 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 upon their faces at the mention of his dreaded 
 name. On my appearing before them, per- 
 fectly naked, the priest again chanted a 
 hymn; again the crowd, as before, taking up 
 the chorus. While this was being sung, 
 another priest came forward, and clothed me 
 with the usual dress of a chief of the third 
 class — a kind of smock of fine hemp, beauti- 
 fully barred with gold. I was now an Orang- 
 wok, and hardly knew myself, chiefs and 
 their wives coming forward to congratulate 
 me on having become one of themselves. So 
 ended the performances of that day. Next 
 day I was presented to the king, and received 
 from him a chief’s sword. I could now marry 
 Lamlam, and begged her father that there 
 might be no further delay. The usages of 
 the country, bowever, interfered again, and 
 hindered the performance of the marriage for 
 another fortnight, as no one was allowed to 
 marry until the moon was full. One of these 
 usages was, that whenever a chief’s daughter 
 was married a slave was sacrificed, some- 
 times two or three, or even six — according to 
 the rank of the chieftain — w'ere sacrificed. I 
 did not become acquainted with this bar- 
 barous custom until I was requested to lay 
 my hand upon the poor wretch’s head in 
 order that the priest might offer him up. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 177 
 
 "Wlien acquainted witli tlie fact I refused to 
 consent to the sacrifice, or take any part 
 whatever in it. I interceded, moreover, for 
 the man’s life to be spared. This could not 
 be, it was said — that if I did not comply with 
 the law or custom, Lamlam must do so. The 
 poor wretch stood by trembling while I ex- 
 postulated with the priest and Kayhar. This 
 made me the more determined that he should 
 not be slain, so I resorted to a stratagem, for 
 which I hope the reader will not judge m© 
 too severely. It was this : I professed the 
 greatest abhorrence (which I really felt) at 
 the intended murder, and declared that if 
 white men joined in killing a slave they were 
 'hung by the gods upon trees and left to rot. 
 This statement made an impression upon 
 Kayhar, and through him upon the priest. I 
 offered to bring my book in proof of what I 
 said; and, on being requested to do so, I 
 brought the Bible and read the words from 
 Genesis, “ Whoso sheddeth man’s blood by 
 man shall his blood be shed,” altering them 
 to this effect in translating them into Orang- 
 wok, “Whoso sheddeth slave’s blood the 
 gods shall hang him on a tree to rot.” 
 Whether I was justified in doing this, I leave 
 ray readers to judge. The course I took had 
 due effect. The man was reprieved, and ul- 
 
1 78 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 timately liis life was spared, on the under- 
 standing that lie was to be my slave for ever, 
 ready at any time to be sacrificed. On these 
 terms tlie custom was in my case dispensed 
 with, and our marriage was allowed to pro- 
 ceed. The form of marriage was singular 
 and elaborate. 
 
 I proceeded to the sacred grove over night, 
 and was placed in a kind of box or ark, care- 
 fully covered in. Before the sun rose, or as 
 soon as his first beams fell upon the grove, 
 which was situated on high ground outside of 
 the city, the priest began to chant certain 
 words intended as prayers, which he con- 
 tinued until the beating of drums announced 
 that the bride was approaching. When she 
 entered the grove, led by the priest and fol- 
 lowed by her father and friends, she was 
 taken first to the marble altar on which the 
 poor slave was to have been slain, and then 
 some words were chanted over her head as 
 she lay upon the sacred earth. She was now 
 (on standing up) led round the grove accom- 
 panied by her maidens, seeking her husband. 
 Of course he could not be found, being care- 
 fully concealed in the chest which I have men- 
 tioned, and which she was not permitted to 
 approach. At last she returned to the altar, 
 and there, declaring that she could not find 
 
Adventures in New Gtunea. 1 79 
 
 Tregan, prayed the help of Otaroo. On this 
 the priest demanded gold for the sacred ser- 
 vices. On the gold being placed upon the 
 altar, the chanting was renewed, and as the 
 chorus was raised — all as usual joining in it — 
 Lamlam was led towards the chest in which 
 I was hidden. Again the chant was sung, 
 and again the chorus was taken up by the 
 spectators. On this being repeated the third 
 time, Lamlam was introduced into the chest 
 and became my wife. The proceedings hav- 
 ing reached this point, the noise from drums, 
 fifes, lars, and voices became deafening, in 
 the midst of which we felt the chest lifted 
 and borne through the air. This continued 
 for half an hour, when suddenly all the noise 
 ceased. We had reached the gates of K’ootar, 
 and were entering its streets. Noise now 
 would have been unseemly. The crowd, how- 
 ever, continued to follow until our bearers 
 stopped, but only for a moment, in the next 
 they proceeded, although with evident diffi- 
 culty, the chest tilting as if it was being lifted 
 upward. We now felt that the chest was 
 laid upon a floor, and presently all was silent. 
 The sound of footsteps being heard receding 
 in the distance, Lamlam now whispering that 
 we were at home, I opened the side of our 
 carriage and found that we were in our own 
 N 2 
 
i8o Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 house on the third floor. We were at home ; 
 Lamlam was my wife. 
 
 For a whole week neither of us stirred out 
 of our house. It would have been a serious 
 breach of etiquette had we done so, but at 
 the end of that time we were saluted by a 
 horrible din of instruments beating discord- 
 antly, which continued for an hour. This 
 was to signify that we were to return to the 
 world, and begin our round of feasting and 
 merriment, with which the marriage of a 
 chiefs daughter always concludes. I was 
 glad when it was all over. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 iSi 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Wannoota, the principal priest, was a man of 
 great intelligence, with a wider extent of 
 knowledge than was possessed by the ordi- 
 nary chiefs. He was shrewd and far-seeing ; 
 ready to perceive the bearing of anything 
 upon his interests. After my marriage he 
 sought me out and became, as I concluded, 
 my friend. He expressed the highest ad- 
 miration of my ability to talk to a piece of 
 paper or leaf which had marks upon it, and 
 begged me to give him some assistance that 
 he might be able to converse with the “ white 
 leaf.” I consented to do so, and after giving 
 him a few lessons in the same way that I had 
 given them years before to Lamlam, he made 
 great progress, and evidently grasped the full 
 meaning of our system of writing. After 
 this he visited me assiduously, and obtained 
 from me all the knowledge I could communi- 
 cate in this way. He also sought eagerly for 
 information respecting the countries of the 
 white men and their religion. To all that I 
 
i82 Adventures in New Gttinea. 
 
 could tell him he listened intently, only 
 interrupting to ask some question, which 
 showed how well he understood the hearing 
 of my remarks. 
 
 “ Do you not keep your God in your 
 temples’? ” (or groves.) 
 
 “ No, our God is in heaven, beyond the 
 stars or beyond the sun.” 
 
 “ There is nothing beyond the sun ; no- 
 thing could remain up there. How would it 
 hold on ? Where, therefore, could your God 
 live?” 
 
 “ He lives out of sight ; no one can see the 
 palace where He resides.” 
 
 “ How do you know that unless you have 
 been there ? ” 
 
 “ Our leaves (books) tell us this.” 
 
 “ But did your leaves come down from 
 heaven, and who brought them ? Were they 
 thrown down in a thunder-storm ? ” 
 
 To this I answered by explaining as best I 
 could ; when Wannoota returned again to his 
 first thought. 
 
 “Then, if your God is not kept in His 
 temples, how do the people make offerings of 
 gold to Him ? How do they offer sacrifice to 
 Him? And if they do not, how can His 
 priests live and become rich, dressing like the 
 great chiefs of the kingdom ? If we only 
 
Adventures in New Gttinea. 183 
 
 worshipped Otaroo with words his priests 
 would die, and the people would not fear 
 him.” 
 
 I had been trying to explain the nature of 
 Christian worship to him. I cannot relate 
 one hundredth part of the priest’s conversa- 
 tion with me ; nor did I at the time see the 
 drift of his inquiries. He professed to be 
 anxious to understand what was in the book 
 from which I had read before I was married. 
 I promised to teach him. The priest and 
 myself were thus thrown a great deal to- 
 gether, and, as he was a well-informed and 
 intelligent man, I gained a large amount of 
 information about the resources of the king- 
 dom of K’ootar — the manners and customs 
 of the people — the distant tribes inhabiting 
 the coast country to the north of the Tanna- 
 vorkoo. He told me that there were among 
 these barbarian tribes, — tribes of women who 
 lived entirely by themselves, and killed any 
 man who fell into their hands except at 
 certain seasons of the year. That there was 
 another race, called the Kik-Kiks, who had 
 an evil spirit living in the heads of the indi- 
 vidual members of the tribe. I could not 
 understand this till afterwards. But I will 
 1‘elate what the priest told me. 
 
 “ Many years ago,” he said, “ there was a 
 
1 84 Adventures in New Gtiinea. 
 
 great chief, who was very brave and very 
 cruel. In a battle with one of the many other 
 savage tribes, he was struck to the ground 
 by a spear wound which passed through his 
 mouth. As the blow did not kill him he was 
 nursed carefully until he recovered, but when 
 he had recovered it was found that an evil 
 spirit had taken possession of him, and was 
 living in his head. It could be heard talking. 
 Every one felt he was haunted, and avoided 
 him. After a time, his life becoming a burden 
 to him, he departed from the kingdom, and, 
 taking with him many wives, he established a 
 new tribe.” 
 
 This was many years ago, before Wan- 
 noota’s three fathers were born. The new 
 tribe thus formed were the Kik-Kiks. 
 
 “Another people,” he said, “ had tails, at 
 least the men had, and whenever they sat 
 down had to make holes in which to coil 
 their tails, for they were very long.” 
 
 I did not, of course, believe these stories, 
 yet felt there might be some amount of truth 
 in them. Before I left K’ootar I had a slight 
 confirmation of one of these stories. There 
 came a deputation from a distant tribe living 
 in the north, bringing with them a slave 
 which they had captured on their route. As 
 he was said to belong to the Kik-Kiks, I, 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 185 
 
 remembering the priest’s tale, went to see 
 the slave. He was an ugly, malformed-look- 
 ing creature, very forbidding in his appear- 
 ance. When I drew near to him I could hear 
 distinctly a noise whenever he drew his bi’eath, 
 like the ticking of a clock. I could not be- 
 lieve my ears ; yet, there it was. I examined 
 the man, thinking the noise might be caused 
 by some abnormal state of his throat. Yet I 
 could detect nothing unusual. The man was 
 breathing naturally, not in the least surprised 
 at himself, but surprised to find that Ave did 
 not occasion a similar noise when we drew 
 our breath. Whether there are others like 
 this man I cannot say. It is possible that 
 one or two instances like this may have 
 given rise to the story of a tribe of Kik- 
 Kiks. 
 
 My life with Lamlam was a very happy 
 one. She endeavoured in all things to carry 
 out my Avishes, even in regard to her dress. 
 Of course I was too much imbued with 
 European customs to be pleased with the 
 indecent costume of heathenism, and I per- 
 suaded my wife to adopt a more becoming 
 dress in respect of length than was usually 
 worn. As no one could attend a levee of the 
 king’s except in the dress prescribed, I 
 thought it better that Lamlam should keep 
 
1 86 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 away, giving out that she was not well — as 
 indeed she was not. 
 
 We had many pleasant and interesting con- 
 versations, which I now hold in affectionate 
 recollection. Although I do not care to 
 reveal the purport of these, yet, to give the 
 reader an insight of her character and mind, 
 I wUl relate one conversation which we had 
 together soon after our marriage. 
 
 (I may mention here that I had not felt 
 satisfied with my marriage until I had read 
 the marriage-service from the Prayer Book, 
 which was bound with my Bible, with Lam- 
 lam, and had gone through the ceremonies 
 there prescribed.) 
 
 It was after this that the conversation 
 referred to took place. 
 
 “ How long,” said she, placing her hand in 
 mine and laying her head on my shoulder, 
 “ did you say you would love me ? ” 
 
 “ For ever — until death parts us.” 
 
 “ And won’t you love me afterwards ? ” 
 
 “ Yes, Lamlam, I will love you in heaven.” 
 “ What shall I be like after I die ? Shall 
 I be a Wankoo or Dop-dop ? ” 
 
 “No, you will be an angel ; better than 
 you are now, and as white as the snow on 
 Tannavorkoo.” 
 
 She shrank from the idea of becoming 
 white, but she said, — 
 
Advenhu'cs in New Gtiinea. 187 
 
 “ Where shall I live then ? In what 
 country ? ” 
 
 “ In heaven, beyond the sun.” 
 
 “ But there is no place beyond — farther off 
 than Otaroo.” 
 
 “ Yes, there is, Lamlain, but we can’t 
 see it.” 
 
 “Well, but Tregan, how can we get up to 
 heaven ? What road shall we go ? ” 
 
 “ Oh, we shall have wings, and fly up like 
 the angels.” ^ 
 
 This satisfied my wife’s mind for a time. 
 And we often renewed our consideration of 
 the same subject, as much to my own 
 instruction as to hers, for I found that I was 
 really very ignorant when I came to teach 
 others. And so a pleasant year passed away, 
 a year in which I enjoyed as much real 
 happiness as I can expect to have this side 
 of the grave. 
 
 ‘ Tregan’s idea of angels is a very primitive one. Tlio 
 Scriptures do not say that they have wings. — Ed. 
 
i88 Adventures in Nevj Guinea. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 My happiness was increased at tlie end of 
 twelve months by the birth of a little boy. 
 It was a strange sensation to me Avhen I first 
 heard the child’s cry, as he lay in his 
 mother’s arms. I did not feel immediately 
 any special affection for him. I looked upon 
 him as a curiosity, and felt towards him very 
 much as I have felt towards a little puppy. 
 Do not misunderstand me. He was a pretty 
 enough little fellow, with an olive-coloured 
 skin, and large, gentle-looking dark eyes, 
 which wandered all over my face, as I stood 
 watching the little thing as he lay nestling 
 into his mother. He was pretty, and quite 
 as interesting as any other baby ever was. 
 Yet I did not feel that strong paternal love 
 for him which I expected to feel. I liked to 
 stroke him, and would have liked to handle 
 him, only I was fearful of hurting him. 
 However, as time passed, I found all a 
 father’s love come, and then the happiness 
 of our household reached its height. As 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 189 
 
 soon as my wife began to get strong, and 
 was able to be about the house, she had 
 congratulatory visits to receive. These were 
 very wearisome, as indeed all the etiquette of 
 these people was, at least to me. But then 
 I had never been accustomed to what is 
 called etiquette, having been all my life a 
 free and careless sailor. 
 
 There was now to be a great confabulation 
 among the women of the place, for the pur- 
 pose of naming the new comer, I was not 
 supposed to be interested in this matter, so 
 I was not taken into the council. This was 
 purely a subject for the women-friends of 
 Lamlam to determine. And so the child 
 was handed about from one to another, every 
 one examining him with care, and comment- 
 ing upon his various features. All were 
 much surprised to find that he was nearly 
 white. As I was now well stained, and as 
 brown as any of them, they concluded that 
 my children would partake of the usual 
 complexion of the race, and they were 
 horribly disgusted to find that this one had a 
 strong tendency to whiteness. Many were 
 the uncomplimentary epithets which were 
 applied to the baby in Lamlam’s hearing, on 
 the occasion of the confabulation ; for these 
 people, in spite of their pretence to refine- 
 
JQO A dventiires in Nezv Guinea. 
 
 ment (and they have as much of this as even 
 European dames), were really, in most cases, 
 heartless and cruel, not sparing the feelings 
 of others — because they themselves had 
 none. I had suggested a name to Lamlam, 
 and expressed a wish that he might be called 
 by the name of Philip. Such an uncouth, 
 savage name could not, however, be heard 
 of ; so they gave him the name of Wokamshe. 
 The ceremony of naming reminded me of 
 another ceremony — that of baptism, and I 
 felt that the child ought to bo made a 
 Christian, so I talked to Lamlam about it. 
 The following conversation ensued ; — 
 
 I explained first what baptism was. The 
 pouring of water on the face — Lamlam called 
 this “ watering the baby.” 
 
 “ But what is the good of watering the 
 baby unless his face is unclean ? ” 
 
 “ It will make him a Christian, Lamlam, 
 like Jesus Chi’ist, of whom we read in the 
 book; like the man who went on a journey 
 in the ‘ Pilgrim’s Progress ’ — that man was 
 a Christian.” 
 
 “ But would Wokamshe go on a journey 
 away from me if you watered him ? ” 
 
 “No, certainly not ; but he would be a 
 Christian, and would grow up kind and good. 
 All white people are baptized.” 
 
AdvenUires in New Gtdnea. 191 
 
 “ What ! even those who kill one another 
 with thunder and fire?” I had described 
 battle-scenes to Lamlam. 
 
 “ Yes, all of them.” 
 
 “ But then they are not good if they kill 
 one another?” 
 
 I felt that my flank was turned by this 
 remark, and I did not for a moment under- 
 stand how I was to escape from the dilemma 
 in which it placed me. 
 
 “ If it does not make them good of what 
 use is it to water their faces ? Would it 
 be better to put water on the whole body ? ” 
 
 I replied, remembering one of the answers 
 in the Catechism, that to baptize him would 
 make him “ a member of Christ, a child of 
 God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of 
 heaven.” Lamlam could not understand, nor 
 indeed could I, but I tried to explain. 
 
 “A member of Christ ! what is that ? ” 
 
 “ A member is a part, a limb ; this is a 
 member,” holding oixt my arm. 
 
 “ How can this baby become an arm of 
 Jesus Christ ? Where is He ? And how 
 can he grow on to Him ? ” 
 
 Here again I was puzzled, so I put off my 
 little wife by saying, “ You see, Lamlam, I 
 am ignorant myself, but I will talk to the 
 book, and find out what it says. In the 
 
192 Adventures in New Gtiinea. 
 
 meantime we will call our little baby Philip, 
 for the other name is exceedingly ugly.” 
 
 I began to read the Bible, to learn what I 
 could about baptism. So I read first the 
 words, “ Go ye out into all the world, and 
 preach the Gospel;” “He that believeth 
 and is baptized shall be saved.” Philip was 
 not old enough to believe, so this did not 
 seem to apply to him. I then found the 
 words of Peter, “ Kepent, and be baptized 
 every one of you, for the remission of sins.” 
 Por a similar reason the words could not 
 apply to him. While I was thus examining 
 various passages, by the help of the references 
 in the Bible, I came across these words, 
 “ Your bodies are the members of Christ.” 
 These were the very words of the Catechism ; 
 so I read them eagerly, and turned up the 
 other places to which the verse referred me. 
 “ Ye are the body of Christ ; ” “ The 
 Church which is His body,” and here, I 
 thought I could see my way. So, after the 
 lapse of several days, for my studies took 
 time, I said again to Lamlam, — 
 
 “ To baptize Philip is to admit him into 
 the Church ; he will after he is baptized be a 
 member of the Church. 
 
 “ What is the Church ; and whereabouts 
 is it? ” was her reply. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 193 
 
 “ Oh, the church is a place where Christians 
 meet to worship God ; where the minister 
 preaches and prays.” 
 
 “ But how can you take him to the church ? 
 There is none in K’ootar.” 
 
 This was true, and again I was perplexed. 
 At last a happy thought struck me. 
 
 “You know, Lamlam, how my life was 
 saved because I had been made a mason, and 
 was able to give the sign to the old priest. 
 Well, in the same way, if Philip is baptized 
 he will become a Christian ; and if ever he 
 goes among the white men, he will be 
 received as a Christian.” 
 
 “Will you then put any mark on him ; or 
 how will they know that he is a Christian ? ” 
 “ He will be able to tell them, and that 
 will be enough. Everybody will be glad to 
 see him, just as the Orangwoks were glad to 
 see me when I became an Orangwdk.” 
 
 I felt I was justified in exaggerating a 
 little for the sake of the end to be obtained. 
 So at last Philip was baptized. The birth 
 of Philip had made me feel very serious, as 
 I did not like the idea of his being brought 
 up a heathen. After baptizing him I felt 
 very much easier in my mind. 
 
 Little Philip did not thrive like European 
 children ; he remained weak and sickly, 
 
 o 
 
194 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 inheriting his mother’s constitution as well 
 as her gentle nature. But although he often 
 occasioned us much uneasiness, yet he 
 brought a large amount of happiness into 
 the house, for he was treated like the child 
 of civilized parents. He sat with us at 
 table, prattled with us, and Lamlam was very 
 fond of him. Indeed, I never saw a European 
 mother more devotedly attached to her white 
 chubby child, than was she to her little 
 olive-coloured, sickly baby. So too was I. 
 We never cared to let him out of our sight, 
 and called to one another to observe all his 
 little ways. If one was absent when he 
 accomplished any feat of speech, or manner, 
 or movement, all was duly related by the one 
 who had witnessed the baby marvel. In 
 this way our household was in striking con- 
 trast to the households of the other chiefs. 
 Amongst them the children were never, or 
 very rarely seen ; they were kept by the 
 slaves, so that the chief’s house should not 
 be disturbed, and the chief’s wife should be 
 free to attend to the amusements of her 
 people. One of these amusements was a 
 remarkable one. The chiefs and their wives 
 (young women were not permitted to be 
 present until they were married) met at a 
 large room, especially built for the purpose. 
 
Adventures in New Gtiinea. 195 
 
 and on all being assembled (the women in a 
 disgustingly nude state, having on only some 
 gold ornaments) a chief, dressed in all the 
 colours of the rainbow, with a long wand in 
 one hand, entered the room, holding a 
 number of light, downy-looking feathers in 
 the other hand. These he distributed — one 
 to each chief. When all was ready, the 
 signal was given by the beating of drums 
 and the playing of music ; at which each 
 chief and his wife started down or across the 
 room, blowing this feather before them. It 
 was wonderful to see the agility and clever- 
 ness that was displayed in keeping this piece 
 of down in the air ; and it was amusing to 
 see the whole crowd at this game, men and 
 women jumping, bobbing, blowing — en- 
 deavouring to keep the feather up. One by 
 one, however, the crowd would retire as the 
 feather each had been trying to keep alive 
 fell to the ground, those who thus retired 
 arranging themselves round the room, to- 
 watch the efforts of those who remained still 
 on the floor. At last a solitary pair alone 
 remained, and these were completely ex- 
 hausted ; they, however, kept up with 
 wonderful spirits, jumping at times franti- 
 cally, and pufl&ng as if the last breath of life 
 was passing from them. At last these too 
 0 2 
 
196 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 collapsed — utterly done up ; and sometimes, 
 I am told, the women were very ill from the 
 exertions made on such occasions, for these 
 amusements (if they can be called such) were 
 kept up for hours. The thing seemed to 
 me to be foolish enough itself ; and when it 
 is considered that it was very frequently 
 dangerous, I was surprised that the good 
 sense of the Orangwoks had not discouraged 
 the silly game. After being at one of these 
 “ shun-shun,” and witnessing the indecency 
 of the costume, and violent exertion made 
 by those taking part in it, I refused to attend 
 any more, although by this refusal I believe 
 I made several enemies who afterwards 
 became very bitter towards me. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 197 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 And now it miglit be supposed my lot was 
 cast in with the Orangwoks, that I should 
 never again see European civilization, and so 
 it would have been, had not a serious 
 calamity befallen me, by which I perforce 
 escaped from captivity, and thus am able to 
 give this narrative to the world. Our little 
 boy was now two years old, but was not 
 strong — far otherwise, he was exceedingly 
 delicate, and I fear the European method of 
 training, which I adopted with him, was not 
 the most conducive to his health — at least 
 such are my thoughts now. The reader has 
 anticipated my story. The child who was 
 so dear to us was taken very ill, and appeared 
 to be sinking rapidly. Nothing could be 
 done to save him, very little to relieve him, 
 although everything that the most devoted 
 and untiring affection could suggest and 
 accomplish was done. Still the little sufferer 
 sank gradually and steadily, until I had to 
 
iqB Adventures in New Gtiinea. 
 
 confess that there was no further hope of his 
 recovery to be entertained. As he was two 
 years and a half old, and exceedingly in- 
 telligent, he understood much that was said 
 and done. 
 
 “ Papa, Philip’s head is hot ; put water on 
 it, and make it cool.” 
 
 “ Yes, my dear, you will be better soon, 
 please God.” 
 
 “ Will Jesus make Phil well, papa ?” 
 
 “ Yes, dear. He will. He will take you 
 to heaven to be with Him for ever.” 
 
 “ But will you and mamma be there 
 too. I don’t want to go without you 
 both.” 
 
 “ No, darling Philip,” burst from the lips 
 of his mother. “ You shan’t go without 
 us. I will pray to Jesus to take us all 
 together.” 
 
 “ There, there,” said the little sufferei’, 
 “ don’t cry, Phil will be better soon,” and he 
 threw his arms round the neck of his mother, 
 with great tenderness. 
 
 If Christianity brings its troubles, it 
 certainly brings its joys. If it enlarges our 
 capacities of suffering, it also enlarges our 
 capacities of joy. Little Philip’s tenderness, 
 so unusual, so far beyond his age, greatly 
 comforted both Lamlam and myself. I 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 199 
 
 repeated the words, quietly, slowly, and 
 clearly, “ Suffer little children to come unto 
 Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 
 They had a new meaning to me now. Philip 
 was going softly, sweetly to the wonderful 
 speaker. 
 
 “ Yes, papa,” he said gently, “ I am 
 coming. ‘ Of such is the kingdom of 
 
 o o 
 
 heaven.’ ” 
 
 He had learned the Avords w'eeks and 
 weeks before. As the words passed from his 
 lips, Philip Avas in the bosom, of Jesus. 
 Only his little Avarm body remained Avith us, 
 lying upon his soft bed. 
 
 I need not speak of my wife’s grief, nor of 
 my own. Our love for our child was much 
 greater than that felt by the Orangwoks 
 usually, for he had been treated as a part of 
 ourselves, and had in all things held the 
 foremost place in our thoughts. 
 
 I was resolved that his body should not 
 be burned, according to the custom of the 
 country; that it should have Christian 
 burial , and in the end I obtained my way. 
 A little grave Avas dug in our park, and early 
 in the morning his body, in a small box made 
 under my directions, was carried to the 
 grave, and lowered into the hole, as I read 
 the funeral service over his mortal remains. 
 
200 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 Never did I feel how beautiful and consoliug 
 was this service until now. It assured me 
 of a resurrection to eternal life at His ap- 
 pearing, for I knew that my Philip slept in 
 Jesus. 
 
 Lamlam and myself now redoubled our 
 interest in the study of the Bible. I longed 
 to obtain all the comfort it contained for 
 myself. I was equally desirous of communi- 
 cating it to my wife. 
 
 “ You said, Tregan, that our Philip will 
 live again in heaven beyond the sun. How 
 can he get up there ? He is in the earth. 
 Will God send an angel to carry him up, and 
 if so, how long will it be before he is taken 
 away ? ” 
 
 “ You do not quite understand, Lamlam. 
 Philip’s soul has gone to heaven — that which 
 loved his papa and mamma — that which 
 spoke to us through his soft eyes, and gentle 
 hands — that was Philip, and that has gone to 
 dwell in heaven with Jesus.” 
 
 “ But will not his body be in heaven too, 
 his beautiful eyes, his nice winning ways. 
 Will not these be in heaven ? ” 
 
 “Yes, Lamlam, yes. On the day of the 
 resurrection. Let me read to you how Jesus 
 rose from the dead, and then the chapter 
 contained in the burial service.” 
 
Adventures in New G^linea. 
 
 201 
 
 I read and explained these, as she listened 
 to me intently, the tears rolling down her 
 cheeks. 
 
 A few days after this conversation, I 
 picked up a chrysalis, and knowing some- 
 thing of the wonderful change through which 
 it passed in becoming a butterfly, I put it 
 away, carefully drawing Lamlam’s attention 
 to it. It looked like a dead body, she said. 
 After the lapse of some weeks, I noticed 
 that the change was at hand, and directed 
 Lamlam again to consider it most attentively. 
 Carefully stopping up every means of egress 
 in the room, I waited the result. Next 
 morning, taking my wife into the room, I 
 approached the spot where the grub had 
 been left. The shell or crust was there, but 
 nothing else. 
 
 “Alas! it is nothing,” she cried. “Will 
 dear little Philip be like this ? ” 
 
 “No, Lamlam, like this,” I said, drawing 
 her attention to a beautiful butterfly that 
 was now fluttering about the room. 
 
 With a cry of surprise and joy, she grasped 
 my arm, and said, — 
 
 “Did that come out of this ugly piece 
 of skin ? ” pointing to the outer cover- 
 ing. 
 
 “Yes, and in the same way, in the resurrec- 
 
202 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 tion, oui’ little Philip shall arise, a beautiful 
 body, out of that weak, suflFering body which 
 was laid in the grave. ‘ Sown in corruption, 
 raised in incorruption; sown in weakness, 
 raised in j)ower.’ ” 
 
 Her mind could now better understand the 
 idea of the resurrection, and she derived 
 great comfort from this illustration. At this 
 time she proposed that we should ask others 
 to join us in reading our Bible. To this I 
 consented, and accordingly Kayhar, Lanna, 
 the old priest Wannoota, with the wives of 
 the former two, were asked to join ixs. 
 They came very gladly, especially Kayhar 
 and Lanna. The latter was a very thought- 
 ful and religious kind of man, and had 
 reflected much on our previous conversation. 
 After reading a portion of the Gospel of St. 
 Matthew, I translated it, as well as I could, 
 into Orangwok. I found my auditors deeply 
 interested, especially with the account of the 
 crucifixion — most of them were in tears at 
 this. It had never occurred to me to read 
 this before. Again and again I was asked to 
 read it, and on every occasion I found a 
 similar result. I could not here help the 
 feeling, that our familiarity with these Bible 
 stories probably robs them of their great 
 
Advenht,res in New Gidnea. 203 
 
 charm. At any rate, I can testify that the 
 Orangwoks were penetrated with lively 
 emotions of sorrow as I read, and that they 
 seemed to become better people, after hearing 
 what they did. I cannot say this of all of 
 those who were present. The priest was not 
 I think affected by what he heard, but he was 
 interested. Many others came, until my room 
 was sometimes full of listeners. Lanna sug- 
 gested that as so many Avere interested in these 
 readings, it would be a good plan to write 
 them out, and teach the Orangwoks to read 
 them. I felt under some constraint to do 
 this, for I now began to feel my responsibility 
 as a Christian towards these poor heathens. 
 My dear little wife helped me much, so too 
 did Lanna, who was an apt scholar, and in 
 one year great progress was made, in both 
 teaching them to read, and in writing the 
 stories of the Gospels on paper. It must 
 not be supposed from this that a great deal 
 was done. All that I mean is this ; some 
 ten or twelve people learned to read a few 
 words, and Avere able to make out two or 
 three stories, copied out of Christ’s Parables. 
 But as they did not all have the same stories, 
 the Avhole that was being read amounted to 
 a considerable quantity, as much as seven or 
 
204 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 eight chapters altogether. During this year 
 I was happy, so too was Lamlam ; although 
 we never forgot our great loss, yet in doing 
 what we could to teach others about God, 
 we were consoled. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 205 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 I CONTEMPLATED the results of our religious 
 teaching with satisfaction, and felt that now 
 I was doing something that justified me in 
 calling myself a Christian. My thoughts 
 frequently reverted to dear Miss Cunning- 
 ham, and I wondered Avhether she, from her 
 heavenly home, looked dowm upon me and 
 Lamlam. If so, I knew she looked with 
 approval, and rejoiced that her lessons had 
 not been entirely thrown away upon me. 
 
 On my saying this to my wife, to whom 
 the whole of my history was known, she 
 asked, — 
 
 “ Do you think she can see us here in 
 Tannavorkoo ? ” 
 
 Yes, Lamlam, I do. She can look down 
 from heaven to any part of the world.” 
 
 “ And do you think she loves me, as well 
 as you, Tregan ? ” 
 
 “ Yes, indeed, for she was as gentle and 
 kind as Lamlam herself.” 
 
2o6 Adventures in New Gtiinea 
 
 “ Then she will love dear little Philip, and 
 will take care of him until we go up to him.” 
 
 “ Jesus will take care of him. He has 
 said, ‘Suffer little children to come unto 
 Me.’ ” 
 
 “Yes, hut Jesus cannot nurse all the 
 babies Himself. See what a lot of babies 
 die even in K’ootar. He will want nurses 
 for them all, and He can give our Philip to 
 your friend. I am sure, from what you have 
 told me, that she will be very kind to Philip ; 
 and now I feel quite happy about him. 
 Sometimes I have felt sad, thinking of him 
 wandering through the vast heaven without 
 a mother to look after him; and although 
 Jesus and the angels are kind, yet they could 
 not be to him as a mother. But your friend 
 could, and she would be one to him, for she 
 loved you.” 
 
 Lamlam did not say all this at one breath. 
 She took some time to say it, and this was 
 the sense of all she said. 
 
 She had never been strong, even when I 
 first knew her, eight years ago, and latterly, 
 particularly since little Philip’s death, she 
 had become weaker. I regarded her at 
 times with an anxious heart, and at last 
 acknowledged to myself that she had some 
 chest disease. In the winter a violent cold 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 207 
 
 settled on her lungs, and she was not able to 
 shake it off. It clung to her right through 
 the winter, until she was confined entirely to 
 her own room. For some time before this, 
 however, at her request, I had — once a week 
 at least — read some portion of the Service in 
 the Prayer Book for public worship. 
 
 “ You said, Tregan, that Christians in 
 your country meet together to worship God. 
 In what wmy do they worship Him ? ” 
 
 I explained, and read the Service to her. 
 It was after this that she suggested that we 
 should join in similar acts of worship, and 
 invite her father and mother, with Lanna 
 and his wife, to join us. All this was done, 
 and I never before so thoroughly enjoyed the 
 public prayers of our Church. 
 
 Lanna and Kayhar enjoyed them also, and 
 even Lamlam’s mother, a hard, cold woman, 
 seemed stirred by these acts of worship. 
 
 Lamlam herself seemed wrapt in a de- 
 votional state of mind and heart. After 
 several of these acts of worship had been 
 held, she said to me, — 
 
 “ I begin now, Tregan, to understand 
 something about the happiness of heaven. 
 It was all a mystery. How I can feel w^^hat 
 it is to speak to God in prayer with others. 
 The presence of others speaking the same 
 
2o8 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 words helps me to pray more warmly. 1 am 
 so thankful that God sent you here, Tregan. 
 I never should have known Him if you had 
 not come. I should have lived and died a 
 heathen — should have had no little Philip, 
 no Tregan to love, no Jesus to rejoice in, no 
 heaven to hope for. I am so thankful that 
 you came,” she said, throwing her arms round 
 me. 
 
 She gradually became weaker. There was 
 no doubt in my mind that she was dying. I 
 could not contemplate such a result with 
 calmness. I redoubled all my attentions, 
 and read to her assiduously ; I even prayed for 
 her in my own words. Yet the end came on, 
 and came quickly at the last. After she was 
 confined to her room, and latterly to her bed, 
 her mother was constantly with her. Lamlam 
 spoke to her, and told her all she had learned 
 from the Gospels — said that she could now 
 die in peace and happiness. 
 
 The conversations made a very serious 
 impression on her mother, and I have reason 
 to believe they led her to take greater interest 
 in the stories and teaching of the Gospel. 
 Poor old woman, she was really attached to 
 her daughter in her own way, and was over- 
 whelmed with grief at the prospect of her 
 death. Lamlam’ s father was most tenderly 
 
Adventures in New Gtiinea. 209 
 
 attached to her, and was continually with her 
 whenever his duties permitted. 
 
 At last the end came. She held her last 
 conversation with me — too sacred to be writ- 
 ten here, except a few words of it. 
 
 “ Will your friend be glad to see me, 
 Tregan, in heaven ? ” 
 
 “ Yes, dear, very glad ; so too will little 
 Philip. But, above all, the Lord Jesus will 
 be glad that you have gone to His beautiful 
 house.” 
 
 “ Will it be long before you come, Tregan 
 — many years, or will you come soon ? ” 
 
 “ That is as God wills, Lamlam. I am 
 willing to go now if He wishes it.” 
 
 “ Come to me soon. I will talk to Philip 
 about you, so that he shall not forget you, 
 for he will soon be big, you know. We will 
 keep a place by our side, and wait for you. 
 When you come, will you love your friend, or 
 Philip and Lamlam most ? ” 
 
 “ You and little Philip, dear, be sure of 
 that.” 
 
 “ Farewell to Tregan. ‘ Come unto Me, 
 all that travail, and are heavy laden ; I will 
 give you rest.’ ‘In My Father’s house are 
 many mansions.’ ‘ I am the way,’ ” and in 
 murmuring these words, dear Lamlam passed 
 from earth to heaven. She was dead. 
 
 p 
 
2 lO 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 I never knew till that moment how much 
 sorrow the human heart could bear. I did 
 not thiuk I could have loved any human being 
 so tenderly, so completely, and I was utterly 
 prostrated by the blow. So too was her 
 father. 
 
 We laid her in the same grave as dear 
 little Philip. The one grave contained all 
 that had been dear to me, and all that had 
 brightened my life in K’ootar. Now I did 
 not care to remain any longer, except that I 
 was unwilling to leave the dust of those who 
 were so dear to me. I put up a cross over 
 their heads, and engraved upon it their 
 names, both in Orangwok and in English. 
 
 One of these days some English missionary 
 may find this symbol of Christianity amid 
 the Tannavorkoo mountains, and will then 
 know that some Christian man has already 
 been before him, and that some Christian 
 souls have passed away in K’ootar. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 21 I 
 
 CHAPTEE XXIV. 
 
 Lamlam Lad fallen a victim partly to Ler 
 own natural weakness of constitution,, partly 
 to a serious epidemic wLicL was attacking 
 many of tLe Orangwoks — a cLest affection 
 beginning in an attack of tLe broncLial 
 tubes, ending in congestion of the lungs, 
 which carried off numbers of persons. Such 
 a visitation had never been experienced 
 before. It awakened the gravest considera- 
 tion, which led to some results of a serious 
 nature to myself. A meeting of the uoo was 
 convened to deliberate upon the anger of 
 Otaroo, who was hiding his face in a most 
 unusual way. All that happened at this 
 council I shall never know, except that some 
 serious charge was then made against myself 
 and the religion which I professed. Lanna 
 afterwards told me that Wannoota attended 
 — he was a member of the iioo, and as priest 
 of Otaroo declared that his blessing would be 
 withheld — that the seed should not genni- 
 P 2 
 
212 Advenhtres in New Guinea. 
 
 nate, nor the flower bloom, nor the people 
 rejoice in health until his rival was driven 
 from K’ootar. The priest declared that 
 another god than Otai’oo was worshipped, 
 that Otaroo was deprived of his dues, and 
 that he had borne this with long-suffering 
 for three years, trusting that his children 
 would turn again to him. As they had not 
 done so, but had continued in their apostasy 
 from him, Otaroo had at last sent his plagues 
 upon them. This sickness was the hand of 
 Otaroo. 
 
 “ Where is there another God ? ” exclaimed 
 the gruff voice of a counsellor. “ Who in 
 K’ootar worships any other god than the 
 great Otaroo ? ” 
 
 “ There is one,” replied the priest, “ who is 
 the priest of another god. One who came 
 among us from the Kahshir in the form of a 
 white man, but who is really only a Kahshir 
 disguised. Tregan is that priest,” said Wan- 
 noota, with boldness in his tones. “ And 
 Otaroo has smitten him by killing both wife 
 and child.” 
 
 A great sob came from one corner of the 
 darkened council-chamber at the allusion to 
 Lamlam and Philip. Thus much was told 
 me by Lanna, who had gathered this from 
 his father-in-law, who was one of the uoo 
 
Advenhires in Nezv Guinea. 213 
 
 In vain did old Kayhar, and one or two of 
 my friends, attempt to stay the torrent of 
 superstitious feeling that had been aroused 
 by the crafty old priest. And, after much 
 deliberation, a course was decided upon with 
 reference to myself, which was at once to be 
 carried into effect. All had been in readi- 
 ness, for Wannoota knew that I had many 
 friends in the council. Of what was going 
 on I had not even a suspicion. Overwhelmed 
 with sorrow as I was by the loss of my dear 
 wife, I took no note of the ominous talk 
 of Otaroo’s anger. On the afternoon of 
 the council, I was busy arranging the 
 grave which marked the spot where the 
 bodies of my wife and child lay. I wished 
 to make it look as much like a Christian 
 grave as I could, and had planted numerous 
 seeds, together with a seedling tree of the 
 cypress kind. Here. I was engaged, several 
 slaves assisting me, when an ojBhcer of the 
 troops approaching me, said he had a com- 
 munication for me from the iioo. I im- 
 mediately invited him to my house. On 
 entering, I found myself in the presence of 
 half a dozen well-armed Orangwoks. I was 
 their prisoner. I was not told the reason or 
 cause of my arrest. I was simply told that 
 I was a prisoner, and that if I attempted to 
 
214 Adventures in New Guinea, 
 
 escape, my death would be the penalty. At 
 once I was conveyed to the prison — a large 
 safely-built place surrounded by guards. Here 
 I was kept for several days, no friends being 
 permitted to see me, or communicate with 
 me. I did not care much for life — a little 
 while before I should have hailed death as a 
 deliverer. Still, I desired to live, and was 
 anxious to ascertain what it was intended to 
 do with me. 
 
 I could obtain no information from any 
 one. The old priest visited me, professing 
 to be my friend. He exhorted me to pray to 
 my Grod for deliverance, but gave me no hint, 
 either as to the crime with which I was 
 charged, nor as to my intended fate. Indeed 
 he professed to know nothing. The only 
 comfort I was permitted to have was the 
 luxury of a bath, which I took regularly. 
 To my surprise, on the third day of my con- 
 finement, I found the colouring-matter with 
 which I had been stained, coming off my 
 skin. I was as white as of old. As I looked 
 upon my skin returning to its natural colour, 
 I thought, can all this about Tannavorkoo and 
 K’ootar be a dream. Am I really among 
 civilized people, having been only dreaming 
 of the Orangwdks and their customs ? The 
 face of the old priest dispelled any such 
 
Advenhires in Nezv Guinea. 215 
 
 fancy. For there he was, witness to my 
 change of colour. He started when he saw 
 me, and professed surprise. 
 
 “ Otaroo is angry, Tregan ; what have you 
 done? He has withdrawn his favour from 
 you. You are lost,*’ and immediately went 
 out, 
 
 I did not like the look on Wannoota’s face. 
 The same evening I was taken before the ubo. 
 I had frequently heard of this council, and 
 knew that it was all-powerful, — that from its 
 decision there was no appeal. So I did not 
 go without trepidation. Yet I knew I had 
 friends in that council, and this thought 
 encouraged me. On entering a large bare 
 room, I was blindfolded, and then, led by the 
 hand of one of my guards, I felt that I was 
 being taken down some steps. On reaching 
 a kind of landing, another hand was laid 
 upon me, and the thought flashed through 
 my mind that they were going to assassinate 
 me. As I had never heard of an instance of 
 assassination in all my stay in K’ootar, I put 
 the thought from me, and yet the recollection 
 of the mysterious fate of Lakangeoo (the old 
 priest) produced in me a vague fear which 
 was exceedingly unpleasant. The hand of 
 the first guard was withdrawn from me, and 
 I heard footsteps ascending, as if he was 
 
2i6 Adventures 211 Netu Guinea. 
 
 retiirning. My new conductor led me down 
 still farther, and again I was transferred 
 to another guide or conductor. After several 
 such changes had been made, without a word 
 being spoken on the part of any one, I felt 
 that I had reached a room where several 
 persons were gathered together. Here my 
 eyes were unbandaged, but I could see 
 nothing. I wondered, have I been blinded? 
 has my sight been destroyed ? and exercised 
 my eyes to discover wdiat was the m.attcr 
 with me. I could discover nothing. On 
 reflecting that my sight could not be 
 destroyed without my being conscious of 
 great pain, I came to the conclusion that I 
 must be in a darkened chamber, and sus- 
 pected that I was in the council-room of the 
 h56. I now heard voices subdued, as if 
 coming from a distance, but could hear 
 nothing distinctly. As I thus stood in 
 suspense, surrounded by a darkness that 
 might almost be felt, hearing the gentle 
 breathing of others around me, feeling ex- 
 ceedingly nervous, a sudden movement in 
 front occurred and a slight wind brushed 
 past me. A hand again took hold of me, 
 and I was led on. A few more steps, and I 
 felt myself in the presence of the uoo. A 
 hand touched mine in the dark, and pressing 
 
Advenhires in New Guinea. 217 
 
 it assured me of tlie presence of a friend. 
 At this I took heart, and stood silently 
 waiting the end. No one who has not bee:a 
 in it, can realize the solemn, fearful nature 
 of such a position. Palpable darkness, dead 
 silence, as if one was in a vast solitude, 
 broken only by the strange sounds which 
 warned one that there were other spirits 
 present besides oneself. At last this fearful 
 silence was broken by the voice of one of 
 the ii56 — that of the president or principal 
 chief. 
 
 “ Tregan, you are summoned before a 
 council of Hotarwokoo tibo, accused of bring- 
 ing upon the kingdom of K’ootar the anger 
 of Otaroo by the introduction of another 
 God. You are permitted to reply to this 
 charge.” 
 
 All the danger of my position rushed into 
 my mind as the chief spoke — the treachery 
 of the priest, the epidemic that had visited 
 the people, the death of my wife and child, 
 the cruelty of heathenism. What could I 
 reply ? In a moment of enthusiasm and 
 recklessness, I replied, — 
 
 “ That I do not worship Otaroo is true. 
 I have never concealed the fact. I have, as a 
 white man, been taught to worship another 
 God — the God who made heaven and earth, 
 
2 1 8 A dveiitures in New Gtnnea. 
 
 the sun, the moon and stars. I do not 
 believe that Otaroo is angry in consequence 
 of this. It is mere superstition to think so. 
 Let those who know what I have read to 
 them from my sacred book say whether my 
 religion is not good. If it is, Otaroo cannot 
 be angry with it.” 
 
 I ceaSed, and the silence which followed 
 could be felt. 
 
 “ Is it not true that your sacred leaf says, 
 ‘ Whoso sheddeth slave’s blood, shall be 
 hung in a tree by the gods to rot ? ’ ” 
 
 It was the voice of the priest who spoke, 
 remembering the words I had quoted in 
 order to save the life of the slave, on the 
 occasion of my marriage. 
 
 I replied, — 
 
 “ Yes, these words are in my sacred leaf, 
 and they are true. My God does not allow 
 man’s blood to be shed. He is angry when 
 it is done.” 
 
 Again the voice of Wannoota, — 
 
 “ Otaroo has commanded that slaves shall 
 be sacrificed. It is his due. We are all his. 
 Your God forbids such sacrifice. He is then 
 contraiy to Otaroo — which is the stronger ? ” 
 
 “ The God which I serve is the greater, for 
 He made Otaroo and all things.” 
 
 Again the priest replied, — 
 
The trial. 
 
 Page 219. 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 219 
 
 “ Tregan was made an Orangwok, and 
 became sun-coloured. Otaroo gave him a 
 wife from the Orangwok chiefs. Otaroo 
 gave him a son. All was well, but Tregan 
 went in his heart back to his own God ; then 
 Otaroo took from him his son, to warn 
 Tregan that he must return. But Tregan 
 continued to seek for other gods, and invited 
 many Orangwoks to join him in his search. 
 Again Otaroo turned away his face, and 
 Lamlam, the daughter of a chieftain, of an 
 u 5 o died. Otaroo continues angry, and 
 K’ootar will not see his face until this enemy 
 is destroyed. Otaroo gave Tregan the colour 
 of the sun. He has now taken it away. 
 Tregan is no longer an Orangwok. His skin 
 is white like his heart.” 
 
 After a moment’s silence he continued, — 
 
 “ Judge, 0 wise men, of the anger of 
 Otaroo when he has restored Tregan to his 
 original colour.” 
 
 At this instant a bright flash of light lit up 
 the vast room, and the long robe in which I 
 had been enveloped — head, face, and body — 
 fell from me to the ground. I stood before 
 the assembly of chiefs white as I was ori- 
 ginally. The darkness returned again in a 
 moment, and the priest repeated, — 
 
 “Judge, O counsellors of Hotarwdkoo ; 
 
220 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 jiidge, 0 worshippers of Otaroo. See the 
 evidence of his anger. Judge wisely.” 
 
 The flash of light had revealed a room filled 
 with dusky counsellors. Among them were 
 Kayhar and Lanna’s father-in-law. These 
 were the only two that I could be assured 
 were my friends. I could say nothing further. 
 I could not explain how I had become white. 
 I did not even suspect at that moment that 
 the change was occasioned by the water of my 
 bath, which had been prepared to bring about 
 this result. I am sure now that such was the 
 fact. I did not even suspect it while I stood 
 before the council. 
 
 The fact of my having been restored to my 
 original colour made a great effect upon the 
 uoo ; nothing could resist the force of this 
 evidence. 
 
 After I had been reconducted to my prison, 
 the U.66 proceeded to deliberate upon the pun- 
 ishment I should receive. The priest Wan- 
 noota insisted that I should be put to death, 
 to pacify the wrath of Otaroo ; and his 
 arguments for a while prevailed. But Kayhar 
 and Lanna’s father-in-law resisted this deter- 
 mination, and were ably supported by the old 
 warrior who had fought with me against the 
 Tokshis. To me, he said, the king owed the 
 preservation of W iitara. As I was well known, 
 
Advenhires m New Guinea. 
 
 221 
 
 tliere was an evident unwillingness to put me 
 to death. Yet such would have been my fate, 
 probably, had not my friends resorted to a 
 stratagem. Kayhar said, that if I was a 
 priest of another god it would not be wise to 
 provoke this god to anger by killing me, that 
 although Otaroo was great, yet, that as 
 powerful kings were sometimes overcome by 
 weaker ones through adverse circumstances, 
 so the God of Tregan might, by some chance, 
 prove himself a match for Otaroo. Kayhar 
 would therefore advise that I should be 
 restored to my own God beyond the sea, and 
 so the kingdom be ridden of any further 
 danger from the introduction of new gods. 
 
 In this defence Kayhar dissembled his real 
 feelings and opinions, and gave the advice 
 which I have related from a desire to save 
 my life, which he saw was in imminent 
 danger of being sacrificed. This speech of 
 his produced a profound impression, and at 
 last a conclusion, recommending the king to 
 expel me from his kingdom, was agreed to, 
 Wannoota having to be content with this. 
 
222 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 The first intimation I received of tlie decision 
 of tlie iioo was from Kayliar the same even- 
 ing. He came to me in my prison, bringing 
 authority for my release, as he had made 
 himself responsible for my safe keeping. 
 
 “ Your life is safe, Tr%an, but you must 
 leave the kingdom of K’ootar. This was the 
 only leniency that your friends could procure 
 for you.” 
 
 And then he proceeded to tell me all that 
 I have narrated, in the previous chapter, of 
 the deliberation of the u66. 
 
 “I am thankful we were able to protect 
 your life. I regret that we could not keep 
 you with us. We shall, however, never for- 
 get you, nor shall we forget all that we have 
 read in the ‘ white leaf.’ We shall keep those 
 stories and learn them by heart, remembering 
 that Tregan brought them to us.” 
 
 By this time we had reached Kayhar’s 
 house, and on my entering I was overcome 
 by my recollections of the past, for I saw, as 
 
Adventures in Nczo Guinea. 223 
 
 if it was only yesterday, little Lamlam coming 
 aeain to learn from me ; to take her farewell 
 when I started for Watara. I saw again all 
 her gentle, winning ways, and was thoroughly 
 cast down. I should never see her again, 
 nor should I again look upon these scenes of 
 her past life. In a few hours they would be 
 gone for ever. Such thoughts tended to make 
 me very sad, and I fear I was not much of a 
 companion for Kayhar. Later in the evening 
 Lanna came in to see me and to welcome me 
 on my escape from the toils of the old priest 
 Wannoota. He had, through Kavhai*’s in- 
 fluence, been appointed to escort me to the 
 boundary of the kingdom. Of this I was 
 exceedingly glad. We were to start at sun- 
 rise next morning, as it was considered 
 desirable by my friends to get me away 
 before any change could be brought about in 
 the minds of the members of the u66. I 
 retired that night, but not to sleep, for I was 
 too excited to repose myself. I made every 
 preparation for my departure before lying 
 down. I had only one purpose to fulfil 
 before leaving K’ootar for ever. Before the 
 sun rose I was at my post to execute my 
 purpose ; to make a sketch of dear Lamlam’s 
 and Philip’s grave, I knew the sketch would 
 be verv rough and hurried, bvit it w'ould serve 
 
 t o 
 
224 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 as a memento of that which was dear to me. 
 As I sketched the silent heap, with its small 
 white cross, looking so still and solemn in the 
 early light, I saw the rays of the sun tinting 
 the snow-topped peaks of Tannavorkoo, As 
 1 watched, fascinated by its golden glories — 
 for I had not seen the sun for some weeks — 
 I endeavoured to express what I saw on my 
 sketch. The light stole downward rapidly, 
 and, sweeping along the plains, touched the 
 tree-tops in my park, and flooding them from 
 branch to root, lighted up the little grave and 
 its white cross. It was the light of another 
 morning brightening upon me. I wish to 
 keep those sensations for ever. I was aroused 
 from my reverie by the voice of a slave, tell- 
 ing me that Lanna was waiting for me. 
 After a long, painful, and eternal farewell 
 with Kayhar and his wife, the parents of 
 Lamlam, I passed from K’ootar for ever. 
 For a time we were all silent ; every mind was 
 filled with sorrowful reflections, but after the 
 first few miles were past, and the cool fresh 
 air had invigorated us, we began to talk. 
 
 “ Your coming has been good for us, 
 Tregan,” said Lanna ; “ I am sorrowful at 
 your departure.” 
 
 “ Just think, Lanna, that I was killed in 
 battle, and you will be able to think more 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 225 
 
 complacently about my going away. 1 shall 
 be just as if I was dead to you.” 
 
 “ If you had been killed in battle I should 
 not have cared so much, but you have been 
 betrayed by Wannoota, who hates you, and 
 many of the chiefs have joined in his act 
 because they are envious of you. They want 
 to get rid of you. They do not believe old 
 Wannoota’s fable about Otaroo any more 
 than I do. It suits them to accept the 
 priest’s view of these things.” 
 
 “ I am glad that they do not believe in 
 Otaroo, they may thus come to accept a 
 better religion.” 
 
 “ I do not mean that they do not believe in 
 Otaroo. I mean that they have no fear of his 
 anger. They know that all things would go 
 on in very much the same way as at present, 
 whether we worship him or not. However, 
 I shall never worship him again, Tregan. 
 I shall always worship Jesus, for after 
 Lamlam’s death I saw what belief in Him 
 could do. It is my firm intention to adhere 
 to Him as my God, and to learn His words.” 
 We had now reached the descent to the first 
 plateau. Before descending into it, we caught 
 a glimpse of the lower plain, and saw the 
 waters of the lake (Lake Amb^) lying far 
 away on our left. 
 
 Q 
 
2 26 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 The scene was like a fairy scene — soft and 
 graceful in the spring light. On our right 
 lay the plateau, with its large town and 
 numerous homesteads, well watered, and 
 showing already signs of rich vegetation. 
 But I need not repeat — I need not linger. I 
 could not fail to recall the impressions made 
 upon me nine years ago, as I was carried 
 upward to the mysteries of the mountain 
 kingdom. I wondered too, if I should ever 
 return again to civilization and to France. I 
 resolved to spare no efforts to escape to 
 Australia, and I planned at this time a 
 device, which I afterwards carried out, to get 
 away from the Rahshes, or coast tribe. On 
 the second day the boundary rampart was 
 reached. We stayed at the first posting- 
 house for the night. In the morning Lanna 
 would go homeward ; I would go eastward, 
 towards the coast. At sunrise he and myself 
 rode along the path by ourselves, to have a 
 last quiet talk. After exchanging mementoes 
 with each other, we parted in great sorrow. 
 
 Once on the natural rampart, I paused to 
 look back over the kingdom of Tannavorkoo. 
 It was a lovely sight that my eyes rested on. 
 The mountain all glowing in the light, the 
 lake glittering like a mirror, the smoke rising 
 up gracefully beyond the tree-tops, the tall 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 227 
 
 trees of many kinds, the bright-coloured 
 flowers and birds. I could have returned, 
 had not that little grave, which rose before 
 my mind’s eye, contained all that I loved, 
 
 I turned my course slowly to the coast — 
 Lanna had given me the route, and I, as a 
 sailor, knew something of the points of the 
 compass. So I steered my course towards 
 the scene of my first adventure in N"ew 
 Guinea. Without much difficulty, I could 
 avoid the wandering tribes, through the 
 speed of my little pony. I reached Eagek, 
 on the second day towards evening. I rode 
 up to the village, passing the old palisade in 
 which I and my unfortunate companions had 
 been confined. I passed the place of the 
 great fire, marked by the presence of the vast 
 slabs of stone, and shuddered to think of 
 their fate. I was known and recognized 
 instantly. All the village came to see and 
 welcome me. I was installed at once in a 
 place of honour. 
 
 Q 
 
 o 
 
2 28 Adventures in New Gtiinea. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 I EE SOLVED to Carry out my scheme without 
 loss of time. I knew something of the coast 
 of Xew Guinea and Australia, and that som^ 
 settlements were to be fonnd along the 
 northern parts of the latter. I knew too 
 that it was quite a possible thing to reach 
 the mainland in a small boat, although I 
 shrank from attempting the voyage in one 
 of the native canoes. Better make the 
 attempt in a canoe, than remain for ever 
 amongst savages. Such were my thoughts, 
 and such my resolution. My scheme to 
 escape from the hands of the Rahshes was 
 this : to pretend that I had ,the authority of 
 Lakangeoo to go over to the mainland. I 
 was at once questioned about the old priest, 
 for he had never returned to them. To all 
 questions I gave evasive, mysterious answers. 
 I was acting under the directions of the priest 
 of Otaroo, and was to take a canoe to the land 
 beyond the sea. There was some resistance 
 to this proposal at first, but my influence 
 
Adventures m New Gtiinea. 229 
 
 succeeded, and I went next day to the shore 
 of the bay, mentioned at an earlier stage of 
 this narrative. To my great delight I found 
 the boat of the Ville du Havre. It had been 
 picked up upon the coast by the natives, 
 and repaired by them. As it had a sail and 
 oars I resolved to use the boat for my attempt 
 to escape to the mainland. A stock of pro- 
 visions — yams, fish, meat, and fowls — was 
 laid in, enough for a week or more. A large 
 calabash of water, with a small quantity of 
 Sw beverage, sufficed for liquids; and, 
 feverishly anxious as I was to get away, 
 when all was on board I felt inclined to cast 
 off that night. However, I waited till Otaroo 
 came up out of the sea, and then, without 
 loss of time, cast off and sailed down the bay, 
 accompanied by many canoes. I do not care 
 to weary the reader with accounts of my 
 voyage. Let it suffice to say that before dark 
 I was well down the coast. On the second 
 day I had rounded “ South-East Cape,” and 
 had trimmed my sail for the Australian shore. 
 The next day there was no land in sight, and 
 the little boat danced like a cockle-shell on the 
 heaving water. It made me feel very solemn 
 to look up and around, and to see nothing 
 but water and sky, and to know that I was 
 thus alone with God. On the fourth day. 
 
230 Adventures in New Gtiinea. 
 
 towards sundown, I sighted a white sail, like 
 the wing of a gull in the distance. As she 
 drew nearer I saw that she was barque- 
 rigged, and that she was crossing my course. 
 I crowded on all sail, and felt my heart beat- 
 ing wildly. After ten years of captivity I 
 shall see again the old world and home. But 
 the thought of poor Philip lying in a watery 
 grave dashed my joy a little. The ship kept 
 on her way steadily. She had seen me — at 
 least I thought so. She was putting her helm 
 down. It was all right, I should be saved. 
 Never shall I forget the pleasure of that 
 moment. But the sun went down while she 
 was yet a considerable distance from me, 
 Soon it was quite dark. I could see, however, 
 the ship’s lights \ could fancy — was it fancy ? 
 — that I could hear the water rippling by the 
 ship’s side, But she did not get nearer, and 
 the darkness deepened. I shouted, but no 
 answer came back ; not even the echo of my 
 own voice. 
 
 Hours passed, and I was still alone on the 
 sea, unrescued, although so near to safety and 
 home. During all the night, I kept a keen 
 look-out, and watched with deepest anxiety. 
 At times I saw the ship’s lights, and thought 
 she was lying-to until morning ; at others 1 
 missed her altogether, and then felt that I had 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 231 
 
 been given up. I plied the oars untiringly to 
 keep up with the ship, and hoped that by 
 dawn she would at least be in sight. When 
 morning dawned, I was doomed to bitter dis- 
 appointment. Wo ship could be seen. The 
 horizon was perfectly clear. I watched the 
 sun rise out of the ocean like a disc of fire, 
 and saw his rays burnishing the world’s great 
 highway ; but no ship, no indication of sail or 
 spar could be seen by the increasing light. I 
 was bitterly disappointed, and was undecided 
 how to act. It was evident that there was a 
 prospect of ships passing upward, that I 
 might be picked up if I kept on my way. 
 Should I pursue my way, or strike for the 
 Australian shore ? I decided to make for the 
 coast, and to land upon the Australian con- 
 tinent. So, with rising hope, I turned my 
 boat’s head in the direction of the coast, 
 guiding myself by the sun, Towards night- 
 fall I sighted a dim bank, which my sailor’s 
 experience told me was land. So I deter- 
 mined to lie-to all night, lest if I attempted 
 to approach the shore in the dark, I should 
 be exposed to some danger. This I accord- 
 ingly did, and, when the day broke, kept on 
 my course towards land. Before noon I 
 approached the shore, a rocky, bold outline 
 and heard the heavy roll of ocean reverbe- 
 
232 Adventtires in New Gtiinea. 
 
 rating along the coast, and saw the spray- 
 spurting up over the cliffs. I coasted the 
 shore for an hour before finding a place 
 which permitted me to land. At last an 
 opening presented itself, and into this open* 
 ing I ran my boat, and then found that I 
 was in still water, and able to run myself 
 ashore. Thank God, I was at last on a 
 civilized continent, It was a matter of time 
 only to enable me to reach Moreton Bay. I 
 formed no plans at once, but determined to 
 rest myself, and wait until next day before 
 doing so. In the night I slept in my boat, 
 and slept soundly. But when morning came 
 I was in the hands of a number of Australian 
 savages. They had seen my boat coming 
 towards the land, and had hidden themselves. 
 During the night, or rather at the dawn of 
 day, they had stolen upon me, and I was in 
 their hands. They treated me kindly, and 
 seemed very much interested in my fate. 
 They, however, took everything I had, and 
 destroyed my boat. No hope of escaping by 
 that remained to me. A hopeless captivity 
 must follow, unless some unexpected chance 
 in my favour arose. From one captivity to 
 another ! Alas, I was utterly cast down. 
 However, it is not my intention to relate in 
 this place the particulars of my residence 
 
Adventtires in New Guinea. 233 
 
 among the aborigines of the Australian con- 
 tinent. I lived among them for two years, 
 and obtained much interesting information 
 respecting their habits and beliefs. They 
 behaved to me with unexpected kindness, 
 which I can never repay. I found them 
 capable of warm, generous impulses, and 
 intelligent in a high degree. Their character 
 is, I think, very much misunderstood by 
 Europeans generally. 
 
234 
 
 Adventures in New Guinea 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Two years passed away — years whicli tad 
 been spent in the wildest portion of the great 
 island. At one time in hunting ; at another 
 time in forays against some other tribe. I 
 had thus learned that the interior of the con- 
 tinent was not a great desert, but was fertile 
 and well wooded. There were, however, few 
 mountains, and, consequently, few rivers of 
 any size. The country was not at all like the 
 interior of New Guinea. I always endeavoured 
 to keep near the coast, in hopes of seeing a 
 ship and obtaining deliverance through her 
 means. And so it happened when the tribe 
 was camped near a rocky headland, which 
 ran out into the sea, that one evening before 
 dark I had seen from the top of a hill, a 
 white sail. I knew that it was the sail of a 
 ship, and hoped that she was approaching the 
 coast. I determined to make an effort to 
 arrest their attention. When night came on 
 I made a large fire in a conspicuous position, 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 235 
 
 and kept it burning for some hours under the 
 plea of driving away evil spirits. I saw the 
 fire leap up higher and higher, and felt that 
 such a glare would attract attention afar off, 
 and warn those who saw it that there might 
 be shipwrecked mariners thereabouts. Nor 
 was I disappointed. My signal was seen. 
 Towards morning I ran to the top of the 
 cliff, and looked out across the ocean. I was 
 overjoyed to see the ship standing off and on, 
 while a small boat was pulling towards the 
 headland. Running down to the shore, to 
 the place which the boat was approaching, I 
 was ready to welcome my deliverers. There 
 were five in the boat, and on seeing me, 
 the one at the helm, a sea-captain, hailed 
 me, — 
 
 “ Hollo, there ! who are you, mate ? ” 
 
 “ A shipwrecked sailor, captain, among the 
 blacks.” 
 
 ^‘Any blacks about?” he asked, as he 
 sprang ashore. 
 
 I explained, and he resolved to proceed 
 with caution. 
 
 I need not prolong my narrative. My 
 friends, the blacks, were unwilling to part 
 with me, yet allowed me to leave them with 
 many expressions of regret, and I was shortly 
 
236 Advenhires in New Guinea. 
 
 afterwards taken on board the Newcastle skip. 
 I was eagerly questioned on reacting ter 
 about my captivity and adventures, and en- 
 deavoured to satisfy the curiosity of my 
 rescuers. After I had taken some refresh- 
 ment, I was called aft to be questioned by 
 the captain. 
 
 “ What countryman are you ? ” he inquired, 
 for I had several times spoken in Orangwok, 
 and had indeed but an imperfect apprehension 
 of English. I had not spoken it for twelve 
 years. 
 
 “ What countryman are you ? ” 
 
 “French, sir,” was my reply. 
 
 “ French ! ” he exclaimed, speaking in that 
 tongue. “ From what part of France do you 
 come ? ” 
 
 “ From the province of Maine.” 
 
 “ And what is your name, my man ? ” he 
 asked, with great interest in his tones ; “ I 
 too am from Maine, from the village of — ” 
 
 “ What ! ” I exclaimed, “ you are not Philip 
 Rigaud of the Ville du Havre ? ” I scanned 
 his face closely, as I asked the question, but 
 twelve years alter most men much and alter 
 some men greatly ; yet I could see, I fancied, 
 a resemblance to my old friend. In another 
 moment I threw myself upon his neck, and 
 
Adventures in New Guinea. 237 
 
 embraced him. I knew it was Philip who 
 stood before me. 
 
 “ You, Louis, you alive?” was all that he 
 could say, in broken tones. 
 
 Philip was not dead. The wave had swept 
 the boat away, had endangered the safety of 
 the crew, yet had not swallowed them up. 
 They had kept away from the coast, as the 
 waves were breaking for miles along the 
 shore. After the subsiding of the storm, 
 they continued their course down the coast 
 and endeavoured to reach the Australian con- 
 tinent. On the third day, a schooner, driven 
 out of her course by the hurricane, picked 
 
 them up, and they were saved. 
 
 -* * * * ^& 
 
 Philip was now, and had been for several 
 
 years, master of the Newcastle ship. He was 
 
 able to offer me the post of second mate with 
 
 him, which I gladly accepted. I am to be 
 
 first mate shortly, and with this expectation 
 
 I am content. I am with mv old friend — 
 
 €/ 
 
 the friend of my boyhood. 
 
 ^ * * * ' # 
 
 Once Philip had returned to France to his 
 early home. His parents were dead. So too 
 was my mother. She had, however, received 
 my last letter before I sailed for New Gruinea, 
 
238 Adventures in New Guinea. 
 
 and had been, greatly comforted by it. “ Alas ! 
 my mother, never shall I see thee again in 
 this earthly life ! ” 
 
 My story is ended. The reader will, I 
 trust, pardon all its faults. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN U.5.A. 
 
 1