Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
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We selected a new position for the house, at the back of a large temple;<br />
gave them tobacco and red cloth, they promis<strong>in</strong>g gladly to have wood cut<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st my next return. Sitt<strong>in</strong>g on the platform, Rua turned to me and<br />
asked, "Tamate, who is your real Maiva friend?" Fancy<strong>in</strong>g there was<br />
trouble, I replied, "Oa Maoni, who sleeps <strong>in</strong> that house <strong>in</strong> death, was my<br />
friend: Meauri, Rua, Paru, and Aua are now my friends." "I thought so,<br />
and Miria has no bus<strong>in</strong>ess to build a house for you. Before we saw the<br />
boat we were down on the beach at Miria's village to beg<strong>in</strong> a quarrel; we<br />
saw you were com<strong>in</strong>g, and we waited for you." "But I want a house on the<br />
coast as well as <strong>in</strong>land; Miria's village is small and too exposed, and I<br />
must look for another place." "That is all right; but this first." "Be<br />
it so." After visit<strong>in</strong>g three villages I had not seen before, and go<strong>in</strong>g<br />
through all the <strong>in</strong>land ones, I returned to Miria's village; he not hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
returned, I went along to Ereere. After dark, Miria came <strong>in</strong>. He felt<br />
sorry when I told him I could not put a house up <strong>in</strong> his place, ow<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
its be<strong>in</strong>g exposed to south-east w<strong>in</strong>d, and to there not be<strong>in</strong>g many people.<br />
"But I have cut the wood." "I shall pay you for that, and the wood can<br />
rema<strong>in</strong> for my return." I gave him tobacco for the young men and a<br />
present to himself, and all was right.<br />
A few morn<strong>in</strong>gs later, I found the natives sitt<strong>in</strong>g round rice; one said,<br />
"Come, we are wait<strong>in</strong>g for you to bless the food." They have seen our<br />
boats' crews of Botu and Boera natives always ask<strong>in</strong>g a bless<strong>in</strong>g. I said<br />
to them, "Cannot one of you ask a bless<strong>in</strong>g?"<br />
"No; wait until we learn, and you will see." A good story is told by the<br />
capta<strong>in</strong> of the _Mayri_. Oa their go<strong>in</strong>g to Aroma to relieve the teachers<br />
after the Kalo massacre, <strong>in</strong> the early morn<strong>in</strong>g they were pull<strong>in</strong>g along the<br />
reef, and just as the sun appeared over the mounta<strong>in</strong>s, one of the Motu<br />
crew called on all to be quiet, rowers to lean on their oars, and then<br />
engaged <strong>in</strong> prayer, thank<strong>in</strong>g God for watch<strong>in</strong>g over them dur<strong>in</strong>g the night,