Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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Kerepunu within six weeks of the massacre, and was so impressed with the
peaceful bearing of the people in both places that I should have been
glad to have re-occupied both stations immediately.
I should have visited Kalo, but was afraid of compromising the mission,
as it is possible the natives may be punished for the outrage. I fear we
are not altogether free from blame; the teachers are often very
indiscreet in their dealings with the natives, and not over-careful in
what they say; there has also, perhaps, sometimes been a niggard regard
to expense on our part. A very few pounds spent at a station like Kalo
in the first years would, I believe, prevent much trouble, and probably
murder. The Kalo natives felt that Hula and Kerepunu got the most
tobacco and tomahawks, and that their share was small indeed. Instead of
our buying all the thatch required for the other stations--only
obtainable at Kalo--we got the teachers, with their boys, to get it. We
meant it well, to save expense. My experience teaches me to throw all I
can in the way of natives not connected with our head station. At this
station--Port Moresby--for the next few years the expenses will be
considerable in buildings, laying out the land, and in presents to the
constant stream of visitors; but it will have a Christianizing and a
civilizing effect upon a large extent of country.
On the 24th of May, 1881, left Port Moresby in the _Mayri_, and, having
taken on board four natives at Boera, continued a westerly course,
anchoring next day in Hall Sound, opposite Delena. Early on the morning
of May 26th, Kone and Lavao, our old friends, came off. They say it is
useless going to Maiva, as we cannot land; but we can go and see for
ourselves, and they will accompany us. I had to land to eat pigs,
_i.e_., receive pigs and hand them over to my followers. On landing,
they led me up the hill at the back of village, where I was astonished to
find a fine tract of land forming a splendid position for a house. Kone