Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
130 skill and ingenuity is in the manufacture of weapons. One of these is known as a Man-catcher, and was invented by the natives of Hood Bay, but all over the vast island this loop of rattan cane is the constant companion of head-hunters. The peculiarity of the weapon is the deadly spike inserted in the handle. The _modus operandi_ is as follows:--The loop is thrown over the unhappy wretch who is in retreat, and a vigorous pull from the brawny arm of the vengeful captor jerks the victim upon the spike, which (if the weapon be deftly handled) penetrates the body at the base of the brain, or, if lower down, in the spine, in either case inflicting a death-wound. All these things are changed, or in process of change. For several years there have been no cannibal ovens, no desire for skulls. Tribes that could not formerly meet but to fight, now meet as friends, and sit side by side in the same house worshipping the true God. Men and women who, on the arrival of the mission, sought the missionaries' lives, are only anxious now to do what they can to assist them, even to the washing of their feet. How the change came about is simply by the use of the same means as those acted upon in many islands of the Pacific. The first missionaries landed not only to preach the Gospel of Divine love, but also to live it, and to show to the savage a more excellent way than theirs. Learning the language, mixing freely with them, showing kindnesses, receiving the same, travelling with them, differing from them, making friends, assisting them in their trading, and in every way making them feel that their good only was sought. They thought at first that we were compelled to leave our own land because of hunger! Teachers were placed amongst the people; many sickened and died. There was a time of great trial, but how changed is everything now! Four years pass on, and, in 1882, we visit them. We left Port Moresby, and arrived
131 at East Cape on a Sunday. Morning service was finished, and, from the vessel, we saw a number of natives well dressed, standing near the mission house, waiting to receive us. The teachers came off, and with them several lads, neatly dressed. After hearing from them of the work, and of how the people were observing the Sabbath, we landed, and were met by a quiet, orderly company of men, women, and boys, who welcomed us as real friends. The first to shake hands with us was a chief from the opposite side of the bay, who in early days gave us much trouble, and had to be well watched. Now he was dressed, and his appearance much altered. It was now possible to meet him and feel he was a friend. We found Pi Vaine very ill, and not likely to live long; yet she lived long enough to rejoice in the glorious success of the Gospel of Christ, and to see many of those for whom she laboured profess Christianity. We were astonished, when we met in the afternoon, at the orderly service--the nice well-tuned singing of hymns, translated by the teacher, and the attention, when he read a chapter in Mark's Gospel--translated by him from the Rarotongan into the dialect of the place. When he preached to them, all listened attentively, and seemed to be anxious not to forget a single word. Two natives prayed with great earnestness and solemnity. After service all remained, and were catechised on the sermon, and then several present stood up and exhorted their friends to receive the Gospel. Many strangers were present, and they were exhorted to come as often as possible and hear the good news. Then, again, others offered prayers. We found that numbers came in on the Saturday with food and cooking-pots, and remained until Monday morning. They lived with the teachers, and attended all the services, beginning with a prayer-meeting on Saturday night. During our stay of a few days, they all remained at the station, and we saw much of them. The teachers said there were twenty-one who professed faith in Christ and had given up heathenism and desired baptism. We
- 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 and 126: 125 and praying that He would care
- Page 127 and 128: 127 at from aft, fell overboard, an
- Page 129: 129 CHAPTER V. EAST CAPE IN 1878 AN
131<br />
at East Cape on a Sunday. Morn<strong>in</strong>g service was f<strong>in</strong>ished, and, from the<br />
vessel, we saw a number of natives well dressed, stand<strong>in</strong>g near the<br />
mission house, wait<strong>in</strong>g to receive us. The teachers came off, and with<br />
them several lads, neatly dressed. After hear<strong>in</strong>g from them of the work,<br />
and of how the people were observ<strong>in</strong>g the Sabbath, we landed, and were met<br />
by a quiet, orderly company of men, women, and boys, who welcomed us as<br />
real friends. The first to shake hands with us was a chief from the<br />
opposite side of the bay, who <strong>in</strong> early days gave us much trouble, and had<br />
to be well watched. Now he was dressed, and his appearance much altered.<br />
It was now possible to meet him and feel he was a friend. We found Pi<br />
Va<strong>in</strong>e very ill, and not likely to live long; yet she lived long enough to<br />
rejoice <strong>in</strong> the glorious success of the Gospel of Christ, and to see many<br />
of those for whom she laboured profess Christianity. We were astonished,<br />
when we met <strong>in</strong> the afternoon, at the orderly service--the nice well-tuned<br />
s<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g of hymns, translated by the teacher, and the attention, when he<br />
read a chapter <strong>in</strong> Mark's Gospel--translated by him from the Rarotongan<br />
<strong>in</strong>to the dialect of the place. When he preached to them, all listened<br />
attentively, and seemed to be anxious not to forget a s<strong>in</strong>gle word. Two<br />
natives prayed with great earnestness and solemnity. After service all<br />
rema<strong>in</strong>ed, and were catechised on the sermon, and then several present<br />
stood up and exhorted their friends to receive the Gospel. Many<br />
strangers were present, and they were exhorted to come as often as<br />
possible and hear the good news. Then, aga<strong>in</strong>, others offered prayers. We<br />
found that numbers came <strong>in</strong> on the Saturday with food and cook<strong>in</strong>g-pots,<br />
and rema<strong>in</strong>ed until Monday morn<strong>in</strong>g. They lived with the teachers, and<br />
attended all the services, beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g with a prayer-meet<strong>in</strong>g on Saturday<br />
night.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g our stay of a few days, they all rema<strong>in</strong>ed at the station, and we<br />
saw much of them. The teachers said there were twenty-one who professed<br />
faith <strong>in</strong> Christ and had given up heathenism and desired baptism. We
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