Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
102 and Makipili have been murdering. A number of people from Marivaenumu were here wallaby-hunting, and on returning were met; three women and two men were killed. They report here, also, that Kupele proper (a small village) no longer exists; the Koiari to the west of us having gone over and killed all but five, who have gone to another village. 26_th_.--Returned to Port Moresby to-day, and found all well, and good news from all the stations. The services have gone on here in Rua's absence with great success. On two Sundays the chief Poi conducted the services, addressing those present, and telling them he thought that now it was time for them all to receive the Gospel which had been so faithfully taught them during these years; in prayer he remembered us who were inland, and asked our Father in heaven to watch over us and bring us back safely, and to enlighten all of them at the seaside. CHAPTER IV. PEACE-MAKING. Mr. Chalmers asked by the natives to go to Elema--Native fears--Difficulties at the start--Namoa--Delena--A Motumotu trading canoe--Interview with Semese, chief of Lese--Christian natives--Friendly meeting with a war canoe--Arrival at Motumotu--Friendly reception--Viewing Mr. Chalmers's feet--Natives in full dress--Sunday open-air service--Sago as an article of commerce--Peace agreed upon--Return to Boera. When at Kabadi in 1880, the natives begged of me to endeavour to prevent the Elema natives paying them another visit, as they were now living in the bush near the hills. All along the coast the people were much
103 afraid, expecting a raid, and at last news came in from Maiva that Motumotu and Lese were making great preparations that they would visit Motu, kill Tamate and Ruatoka, then attack right and left. Last year, when leaving, they said they would return and pay off accounts, kill the foreigners first, then all the natives they could get hold of. Under these circumstances, I resolve to visit Motumotu, and beard the lion in his den. I did not believe they would touch me, but I feared they meant mischief to Kabadi and the coast villages. No time could be lost, as we were in a bad month for rain and storms, and the coast line is long and bad. The natives said it was too late, yet I resolved to try it. On the 5th January, 1881, we opened the new church at Port Moresby, and baptised the first three New Guinea converts. The church was crowded, and all seemed interested. I arranged for Piri and his wife to accompany me to the Gulf, they taking the whale-boat. We cannot call at Kabadi on our way down, as we must hurry on, but our natives here were going to Kabadi, and gladly took the news. On January 10, the flag flying on the boat told all that we were to start. Our leader ran off to Kaili last night, but Huakonio, one of the three baptised on the 5th, was willing to go. Our boat's crew were considered fools, rushing into the arms of death. Wives, children, and friends were gathered round weeping. The men said, "Cannot you see that if Tamate lives we shall live, and if he is murdered we shall be murdered? It is all right; we are going with him, and you will see us back all right with sago and betel-nuts." Huakonio told me in the boat that every means imaginable but physical force were used to prevent their accompanying me; and he added, "We know it is all right; the Spirit that has watched over you in the past" (naming the various journeys) "will do
- Page 51 and 52: 51 me, I shall return." It had the
- Page 53 and 54: 53 "Oh no, my friends; pull, you mu
- Page 55 and 56: 55 A girl steals out from the crowd
- Page 57 and 58: 57 all done up in small parcels, so
- Page 59 and 60: 59 who knows what he may be up to?
- Page 61 and 62: 61 in the distance, numbers more si
- Page 63 and 64: 63 When in the boat, we asked the H
- Page 65 and 66: 65 When sickness is in the family,
- Page 67 and 68: 67 16_th_.--Ruatoka, Joe (an Africa
- Page 69 and 70: 69 20_th_.--Yesterday evening, abou
- Page 71 and 72: 71 gave him some on his taro. He be
- Page 73 and 74: 73 "If you go on you will be devour
- Page 75 and 76: 75 teeth, hold with one hand, and w
- Page 77 and 78: 77 understand them. It is very conv
- Page 79 and 80: 79 to get tobacco and salt, their h
- Page 81 and 82: 81 Owen Stanley. There will be plen
- Page 83 and 84: 83 20_th_.--Last night, after turni
- Page 85 and 86: 85 _Nao_, _nao_! (foreigners), and
- Page 87 and 88: 87 They seem very much attached to
- Page 89 and 90: 89 Seeing there was nothing for it-
- Page 91 and 92: 91 Sogerians. I was sitting on the
- Page 93 and 94: 93 natives. This part of the plain
- Page 95 and 96: 95 streams from the Astrolabe Range
- Page 97 and 98: 97 places precipitous rocks. The fa
- Page 99 and 100: 99 true it was the Great Spirit or
- Page 101: 101 grass bound tight at one end, a
- Page 105 and 106: 105 "I am going to Motumotu, and no
- Page 107 and 108: 107 the sea was too high, breaking
- Page 109 and 110: 109 different. To get into Motumotu
- Page 111 and 112: 111 I landed with them, and went up
- Page 113 and 114: 113 In the afternoon we held servic
- Page 115 and 116: 115 CHAPTER V. THE KALO MASSACRE. T
- Page 117 and 118: 117 and, after the first moments of
- Page 119 and 120: 119 at once offered me as much land
- Page 121 and 122: 121 fighting all round, avenging Oa
- Page 123 and 124: 123 not stay if they were to be con
- Page 125 and 126: 125 and praying that He would care
- Page 127 and 128: 127 at from aft, fell overboard, an
- Page 129 and 130: 129 CHAPTER V. EAST CAPE IN 1878 AN
- Page 131 and 132: 131 at East Cape on a Sunday. Morni
103<br />
afraid, expect<strong>in</strong>g a raid, and at last news came <strong>in</strong> from Maiva that<br />
Motumotu and Lese were mak<strong>in</strong>g great preparations that they would visit<br />
Motu, kill Tamate and Ruatoka, then attack right and left. Last year,<br />
when leav<strong>in</strong>g, they said they would return and pay off accounts, kill the<br />
foreigners first, then all the natives they could get hold of.<br />
Under these circumstances, I resolve to visit Motumotu, and beard the<br />
lion <strong>in</strong> his den. I did not believe they would touch me, but I feared<br />
they meant mischief to Kabadi and the coast villages. No time could be<br />
lost, as we were <strong>in</strong> a bad month for ra<strong>in</strong> and storms, and the coast l<strong>in</strong>e<br />
is long and bad. The natives said it was too late, yet I resolved to try<br />
it.<br />
On the 5th January, 1881, we opened the new church at Port Moresby, and<br />
baptised the first three <strong>New</strong> Gu<strong>in</strong>ea converts. The church was crowded,<br />
and all seemed <strong>in</strong>terested. I arranged for Piri and his wife to accompany<br />
me to the Gulf, they tak<strong>in</strong>g the whale-boat. We cannot call at Kabadi on<br />
our way down, as we must hurry on, but our natives here were go<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
Kabadi, and gladly took the news.<br />
On January 10, the flag fly<strong>in</strong>g on the boat told all that we were to<br />
start. Our leader ran off to Kaili last night, but Huakonio, one of the<br />
three baptised on the 5th, was will<strong>in</strong>g to go. Our boat's crew were<br />
considered fools, rush<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the arms of death. Wives, children, and<br />
friends were gathered round weep<strong>in</strong>g. The men said, "Cannot you see that<br />
if Tamate lives we shall live, and if he is murdered we shall be<br />
murdered? It is all right; we are go<strong>in</strong>g with him, and you will see us<br />
back all right with sago and betel-nuts." Huakonio told me <strong>in</strong> the boat<br />
that every means imag<strong>in</strong>able but physical force were used to prevent their<br />
accompany<strong>in</strong>g me; and he added, "We know it is all right; the Spirit that<br />
has watched over you <strong>in</strong> the past" (nam<strong>in</strong>g the various journeys) "will do
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