Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
120 murderers. Arrangements were at once made for erecting a wooden house at Delena, measuring thirty-six feet by eighteen feet, material for which was easily procurable. On the 30th of May, Queen Koloka, her husband, and a number of men and women came in. The Prince Consort first came up, all over smiles, followed in half an hour by his wife and maids. After formally receiving her, I presented Mrs. Lawes's present. I unloosed the parcel, and turned maid-of-honour in real waiting. Her Majesty was chewing betelnut, but that did not prevent my putting the dress on; first attempt all wrong, the front became the back, and the back the front. At length I succeeded, and, after fastening the dress, tied a pretty kerchief round the royal neck. There was great excitement, in every mouth a thumb, a few moments of silence, and then every soul spoke and shouted. It was amusing to see her husband, uncles, maids, old men and women, young men and maidens, gather round the royal presence, wonder and admire, and then shout, _Oh misi haine O_! (Mrs. Lawes). Ah, Koloka, I wonder how you are going to get out of that dress to-night; will you understand buttons, hooks, and eyes? During my stay at Delena, one of those warlike incursions by hostile tribes so common in New Guinea took place. My presence and influence happily brought about an early and satisfactory settlement of the dispute. I extract the following from my journal:-- _June_ 2_nd_.--Our friends seem troubled, and their house-building earnestness is somewhat abated. I find they have heard that the Lolo tribe intend making a raid on them. Is it on them, or on us? Their great hope is that we shall use our guns, and so frighten the invaders. I tell them that we cannot do this; that we are men of peace, and have no wish to frighten any one. It seems Maiva is very disturbed; they are
121 fighting all round, avenging Oa's death, and may soon be expected here. Maiva would not interfere with us, but Lolo I would not trust. We shall have to keep a good look-out to-night. Our friends seem very troubled and excited. I have given warning that any one coming near our camp must call out my name and his or her own. No one can come near without our knowing, as my terrier Flora is a splendid watch-dog. This evening, some women passed camp, carrying their valuables to hide away in the bush. Bob asks, "Suppose Lolo natives come to us, what we do?" "Of course they will not come near to us unless they mean to attack, and then we must defend ourselves." The guns are ready. It is not pleasant; but I fancy they will not molest us, so hope to sleep well, knowing we are well cared for by Him who is never far off. Through much trouble we get to be known, and the purpose for which we come is understood. [A Hula dandy: 175.jpg] 3_rd_.--Last night I slept lightly, with Flora on watch, and Bob easily aroused. After midnight he kept watch. We placed the lights beyond tents on each side, and so arranged that the light would strike on any native nearing camp. About two a.m. Lavao's wife No. 2 came up with her grandchild, goods, and chattels for safety. The Loloans were coming. All right; all ready. Very loud, noisy talking in village. At four, we called out for Kone, who came up telling us that we should be first disposed of, then Delena. I went to the village, and saw the old friendly chief from Lavao. I told him any Loloan coming over the brow of the hill with weapons we should consider as coming to fight, and we were ready. At five, women and children crowded into camp, with all their belongings, and asked for protection. Certainly; we shall do what we can for them. Men are running all about, planting arms in convenient places in the bush. We are told to keep a good look-out--and that we shall. It
- 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 and 116: 115 CHAPTER V. THE KALO MASSACRE. T
- Page 117 and 118: 117 and, after the first moments of
- Page 119: 119 at once offered me as much land
- 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
121<br />
fight<strong>in</strong>g all round, aveng<strong>in</strong>g Oa's death, and may soon be expected here.<br />
Maiva would not <strong>in</strong>terfere with us, but Lolo I would not trust.<br />
We shall have to keep a good look-out to-night. Our friends seem very<br />
troubled and excited. I have given warn<strong>in</strong>g that any one com<strong>in</strong>g near our<br />
camp must call out my name and his or her own. No one can come near<br />
without our know<strong>in</strong>g, as my terrier Flora is a splendid watch-dog. This<br />
even<strong>in</strong>g, some women passed camp, carry<strong>in</strong>g their valuables to hide away <strong>in</strong><br />
the bush. Bob asks, "Suppose Lolo natives come to us, what we do?" "Of<br />
course they will not come near to us unless they mean to attack, and then<br />
we must defend ourselves." The guns are ready. It is not pleasant; but<br />
I fancy they will not molest us, so hope to sleep well, know<strong>in</strong>g we are<br />
well cared for by Him who is never far off. Through much trouble we get<br />
to be known, and the purpose for which we come is understood.<br />
[A Hula dandy: 175.jpg]<br />
3_rd_.--Last night I slept lightly, with Flora on watch, and Bob easily<br />
aroused. After midnight he kept watch. We placed the lights beyond<br />
tents on each side, and so arranged that the light would strike on any<br />
native near<strong>in</strong>g camp. About two a.m. Lavao's wife No. 2 came up with her<br />
grandchild, goods, and chattels for safety. The Loloans were com<strong>in</strong>g. All<br />
right; all ready. Very loud, noisy talk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> village. At four, we<br />
called out for Kone, who came up tell<strong>in</strong>g us that we should be first<br />
disposed of, then Delena. I went to the village, and saw the old<br />
friendly chief from Lavao. I told him any Loloan com<strong>in</strong>g over the brow of<br />
the hill with weapons we should consider as com<strong>in</strong>g to fight, and we were<br />
ready. At five, women and children crowded <strong>in</strong>to camp, with all their<br />
belong<strong>in</strong>gs, and asked for protection. Certa<strong>in</strong>ly; we shall do what we can<br />
for them. Men are runn<strong>in</strong>g all about, plant<strong>in</strong>g arms <strong>in</strong> convenient places<br />
<strong>in</strong> the bush. We are told to keep a good look-out--and that we shall. It
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