Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
126 the place of our forefathers, and the cocoanuts they planted?" "Better leave them, or in a short time there will be none left to remember their forefathers, or eat their cocoanuts." Madu was in the country, and we waited his return. He tried hard to get me to stay over-night, but it was of no use. He presented me with a pig and feathers, and we concluded friendship by my giving a return present. An old woman was presented to me, a great sorceress; but, not liking the sisterhood, I did not see my way clear to give her a present. Such as she keep the natives in constant fear, do what they like, and get what they like. It is affirmed by all that the great Lolo sorcerer, Arua, keeps snakes in bamboos, and uses them for his nefarious purposes. Late in the afternoon we left, accompanied by Madu and a number of youths carrying pig, cocoanuts, and sugar-cane. When leaving, the chief said, "Go, Tamate; we are friends." On June 14th, I had a long conference with the old Paitana chief, Boutu, and his followers. They looked very much excited and alarmed when I met them, but that wore away during our conversation. Boutu, his party, and other Lolo natives assured me that the attack on Dr. James and Mr. Thorngren was unknown to all but those in the canoe. The excuse was that the day before they were trading on Yule Island one young man had feathers for sale. Dr. James and Waunaea told him to leave; they would not take his feathers because he objected to the pearl shell produced. This, they say, was the beginning. He tried very hard to sell his feathers, and, if possible, get a tomahawk. Failing, he went home, quietly arranged a party, slept in the bush, and before daylight went off to the vessel. On nearing the vessel, Dr. James called out--"You must not come alongside: you are coming to kill me." They said, "We are not going to kill you, but want to sell yams." The yams were taken on board, and whilst Dr. James was counting the beads to pay for them he was struck with a club, and afterwards speared, but not quite disabled, as he drew his revolver and shot the man who attacked him. Mr. Thorngren was struck
127 at from aft, fell overboard, and was never again seen. They say, when the people in the village heard of it, they were very sorry, and that ever since they have been looked upon with anger, as they have been the cause of keeping the white man away with his tobacco, beads, and tomahawks. I asked them, "What now?" "Let us make friends, and never again have the like." "But your young men could do the same again without your knowing." "They know better than try it again; they are too much afraid; and they see that what was then done has greatly injured us as well as all the other villages." I explained to them the object of our coming here, and that they must not think we are to buy everything they bring, and must not be angry when we refuse to give what they demand. We do not come to steal their food or curios, and, if we do not want them, they can carry all back; we are not traders. After praying with them, they said, "Tamate, now let it be friendship; give up your intention of going to Mekeo (inland district), and come to-morrow, and we shall make friends and peace." "I shall go; but suppose the mother of the young man who was shot begins wailing, what then?" "She will doubtless wail, but you need not fear; come, and you will see." "Then tomorrow I shall go." Next morning, the _Mayri_ having arrived the evening before, I carried into effect the intended visit. The chief of Paitana and two followers, with my friend Lauma, of Lolo, waited to accompany me. After breakfast we got into the boat, Lavao in charge. We entered the same creek as for Motu Lavao, and when up it some distance turned up another to the right, too narrow to use oars. When two miles up we anchored boat, then walked or waded for two miles through swamp and long grass. When near the village we heard loud wailing, and Lavao, who was leading, thought it better we should wait for the old chief, who was some distance behind. On coming up they spoke in Lolo, then threw down his club, calling on one of his followers to pick it up. He went in front, and called on me to
- 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 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: 125 and praying that He would care
- Page 129 and 130: 129 CHAPTER V. EAST CAPE IN 1878 AN
- Page 131 and 132: 131 at East Cape on a Sunday. Morni
126<br />
the place of our forefathers, and the cocoanuts they planted?" "Better<br />
leave them, or <strong>in</strong> a short time there will be none left to remember their<br />
forefathers, or eat their cocoanuts." Madu was <strong>in</strong> the country, and we<br />
waited his return. He tried hard to get me to stay over-night, but it<br />
was of no use. He presented me with a pig and feathers, and we concluded<br />
friendship by my giv<strong>in</strong>g a return present. An old woman was presented to<br />
me, a great sorceress; but, not lik<strong>in</strong>g the sisterhood, I did not see my<br />
way clear to give her a present. Such as she keep the natives <strong>in</strong><br />
constant fear, do what they like, and get what they like. It is affirmed<br />
by all that the great Lolo sorcerer, Arua, keeps snakes <strong>in</strong> bamboos, and<br />
uses them for his nefarious purposes. Late <strong>in</strong> the afternoon we left,<br />
accompanied by Madu and a number of youths carry<strong>in</strong>g pig, cocoanuts, and<br />
sugar-cane. When leav<strong>in</strong>g, the chief said, "Go, Tamate; we are friends."<br />
On June 14th, I had a long conference with the old Paitana chief, Boutu,<br />
and his followers. They looked very much excited and alarmed when I met<br />
them, but that wore away dur<strong>in</strong>g our conversation. Boutu, his party, and<br />
other Lolo natives assured me that the attack on Dr. <strong>James</strong> and Mr.<br />
Thorngren was unknown to all but those <strong>in</strong> the canoe. The excuse was that<br />
the day before they were trad<strong>in</strong>g on Yule Island one young man had<br />
feathers for sale. Dr. <strong>James</strong> and Waunaea told him to leave; they would<br />
not take his feathers because he objected to the pearl shell produced.<br />
This, they say, was the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g. He tried very hard to sell his<br />
feathers, and, if possible, get a tomahawk. Fail<strong>in</strong>g, he went home,<br />
quietly arranged a party, slept <strong>in</strong> the bush, and before daylight went off<br />
to the vessel. On near<strong>in</strong>g the vessel, Dr. <strong>James</strong> called out--"You must<br />
not come alongside: you are com<strong>in</strong>g to kill me." They said, "We are not<br />
go<strong>in</strong>g to kill you, but want to sell yams." The yams were taken on board,<br />
and whilst Dr. <strong>James</strong> was count<strong>in</strong>g the beads to pay for them he was struck<br />
with a club, and afterwards speared, but not quite disabled, as he drew<br />
his revolver and shot the man who attacked him. Mr. Thorngren was struck
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