Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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7th, Taria, along with five Hula boys, proceeded in a boat to Kalo and
Kerepunu, with the view of bringing the teachers and their families to
Hula, on account of the ill-health of some of the party. He called at
Kalo on the way thither, and apprised the teacher of his intention to
call on the return journey. At Kerepunu he took on board the teacher,
his wife and two children, and one native youth. The party then
proceeded to Kalo. During the interval of waiting there, the chief
and pretended friend of the Kalo teacher got into the boat for a chat.
On the arrival of Matatuhi and the Kalo teacher, along with his wife
and two children, the chief stepped out of the boat. This was the prearranged
signal for attack to the crowds assembled on the bank. At
the outset, the chief warned his followers not to injure the Hula and
Kerepunu boys; but such precaution did not prevent two of the former
being killed. The other four boys escaped by swimming the river. The
mission party were so cooped up in the boat, and spears flew so
thickly and fast, as to render resistance futile and escape
impossible. Taria resisted for a time, but a fourth spear put an end
to his resistance. The others were dispatched with little trouble. A
single spear slew both mother and babe in the case of both women. The
only bodies recovered were those of the Kerepunu teacher's wife and
her babe; the natives of Hula and Kerepunu severally interred the two
bodies. The rest of the bodies became a prey to the alligators. For
the two Hula boys who were slain speedy compensation was made by the
Kalo people. The whale-boat, too, was recovered by the Hula natives.
[A Hula girl: 167.jpg]
The above sad intelligence reached Port Moresby at early morn of the
11th, just as the _Harriet_ was about to leave for Thursday Island, and
the _Mayri_ about to take me to Hula, whilst a party of foreigners were
leaving for the East End. The news, of course, upset all arrangements,