Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
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115<br />
CHAPTER V. THE KALO MASSACRE.<br />
Twelve teachers and their friends killed at Kalo <strong>in</strong> 1881--The warn<strong>in</strong>g--The<br />
massacre--The fear for the teachers at Koma--Mr. <strong>Chalmers</strong>'s views on the<br />
question--Voyage westwards <strong>in</strong> the _Mayri_--A Sunday at Delena--Visit of<br />
Queen Koloka--Threatened attack by Lolo natives--The fight--Peace--Miria's<br />
village--Bad character of the Motu natives--Visit to the chief of Motu<br />
Lavao--Story of Dr. Thorngren's murder--Peace made with the village.<br />
On the 7th of March, 1881, the natives of Kalo, a village at the head of<br />
Hood Bay, near the mouth of the Kemp Welch River, massacred their<br />
teacher, Anederea, with his wife and two children; also Materua, teacher<br />
of Kerepunu, his wife and two children; Taria, teacher of Hula; Matatuhi,<br />
an <strong>in</strong>land teacher; and two Hula boys--<strong>in</strong> all, twelve persons.<br />
The earliest news of the tragedy was given <strong>in</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g letter from<br />
the Rev. T. Beswick, dated Thursday Island, Torres Straits, March 24th:--<br />
On Friday, the 4th <strong>in</strong>st., Taria, our Hula teacher, left Port Moresby<br />
with Matatuhi, an <strong>in</strong>land teacher, the latter wish<strong>in</strong>g to visit the Kalo<br />
teacher for some native medic<strong>in</strong>e. Reach<strong>in</strong>g Hula on the even<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />
4th, Taria heard a rumour that the Kalo people <strong>in</strong>tended to kill their<br />
teacher and his family. Accord<strong>in</strong>gly he went thither the follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
day, along with Matatuhi, and requested the Kalo teacher and his<br />
family to leave at once. The teacher refused to place credence <strong>in</strong> the<br />
rumour, and even questioned his chief and pretended friend, who<br />
assured him that there was not the slightest gra<strong>in</strong> of truth <strong>in</strong> the<br />
rumour.<br />
The Hula teacher returned, leav<strong>in</strong>g Matatuhi beh<strong>in</strong>d. On Monday, the