Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
116 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,
117 and, after the first moments of excitement were over, our next concern was about the safety of the two Aroma teachers. With as little delay as possible, but with groundless forebodings of coming evil, a large party of us left for Aroma. About ten a.m. of the 14th, we reached there, and whilst our three boats lay off a little, so as not to arouse suspicion, a teacher and myself went ashore. With devout gratitude I heard that both teachers and natives were ignorant of the massacre. In less than an hour the two teachers and their families were safely ensconced in their whaleboat, taking along with them but a minimum of their property, according to the orders given. By these means the chiefs and natives of Aroma were left in utter ignorance as to the cause of our erratic movements, nor did they seem to suspect anything. At Kerepunu we experienced considerable noise and worry. Here, too, we judged it prudent to remove very little belonging to the deceased teacher. At Hula, my house had been entered, but the few things stolen were mostly returned. Here, too, we have left goods, until some definite course be decided upon. Strange to say, at Hula, where we expected the least trouble and danger, there we had the greatest; indeed, on one or two occasions, affairs assumed a rather serious aspect. The main idea present in the native mind was to take advantage of us in our weakness and sorrow. After a very brief stay at Hula, we left there on the 15th, reaching Port Moresby the following day; and on the 17th I left for Thursday Island. The natives of Hood Bay attribute this massacre to the influence of Koapina, the Aroma chief, he having assured the Kalo people that foreigners might be massacred with impunity, citing as an illustration the massacre at Aroma last July, and pointing out at the same time the great fame that had thereby accrued to his own people. The Kalo people have not been slow in acting upon his advice. I visited Hula and
- 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 and 102: 101 grass bound tight at one end, a
- Page 103 and 104: 103 afraid, expecting a raid, and 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: 115 CHAPTER V. THE KALO MASSACRE. T
- 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
117<br />
and, after the first moments of excitement were over, our next concern<br />
was about the safety of the two Aroma teachers. With as little delay as<br />
possible, but with groundless forebod<strong>in</strong>gs of com<strong>in</strong>g evil, a large party<br />
of us left for Aroma. About ten a.m. of the 14th, we reached there, and<br />
whilst our three boats lay off a little, so as not to arouse suspicion, a<br />
teacher and myself went ashore. With devout gratitude I heard that both<br />
teachers and natives were ignorant of the massacre. In less than an hour<br />
the two teachers and their families were safely ensconced <strong>in</strong> their whaleboat,<br />
tak<strong>in</strong>g along with them but a m<strong>in</strong>imum of their property, accord<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to the orders given. By these means the chiefs and natives of Aroma were<br />
left <strong>in</strong> utter ignorance as to the cause of our erratic movements, nor did<br />
they seem to suspect anyth<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
At Kerepunu we experienced considerable noise and worry. Here, too, we<br />
judged it prudent to remove very little belong<strong>in</strong>g to the deceased<br />
teacher. At Hula, my house had been entered, but the few th<strong>in</strong>gs stolen<br />
were mostly returned. Here, too, we have left goods, until some def<strong>in</strong>ite<br />
course be decided upon. Strange to say, at Hula, where we expected the<br />
least trouble and danger, there we had the greatest; <strong>in</strong>deed, on one or<br />
two occasions, affairs assumed a rather serious aspect. The ma<strong>in</strong> idea<br />
present <strong>in</strong> the native m<strong>in</strong>d was to take advantage of us <strong>in</strong> our weakness<br />
and sorrow. After a very brief stay at Hula, we left there on the 15th,<br />
reach<strong>in</strong>g Port Moresby the follow<strong>in</strong>g day; and on the 17th I left for<br />
Thursday Island.<br />
The natives of Hood Bay attribute this massacre to the <strong>in</strong>fluence of<br />
Koap<strong>in</strong>a, the Aroma chief, he hav<strong>in</strong>g assured the Kalo people that<br />
foreigners might be massacred with impunity, cit<strong>in</strong>g as an illustration<br />
the massacre at Aroma last July, and po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g out at the same time the<br />
great fame that had thereby accrued to his own people. The Kalo people<br />
have not been slow <strong>in</strong> act<strong>in</strong>g upon his advice. I visited Hula and
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