Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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been about thirty miles off, and, I should think, impossible to reach
from where we were. We were entirely surrounded by mountains: mountains
north, east, south, and west--above us and below us. I question if it
will ever be a country worth settling in.
We were anxious to spend the Sabbath at Port Moresby, so, leaving the
most of our party, who were too tired to come with us, to rest till
Monday, Mr. McFarlane, Ruatoka, and I set off on our return very early on
Saturday morning, and had strangely difficult work in getting down the
mountain side and along the river. Fireflies danced all round in
hundreds, and we awakened many strange birds before their time, which
gave forth a note or two, only to sleep again. Before daylight, we were
at Mr. Goldie's camp, where we had breakfast, and hurried on for the
river. We rested a short time there, and then away over plains to Port
Moresby, which we reached about midday, tired indeed and very footsore.
Oh, that shoemakers had only to wear the boots they send to missionaries!
Early on Sunday morning, a great many natives went out with their spears,
nets, and dogs, to hunt wallabies. A goodly number attended the forenoon
service, when Mr. Lawes preached. A good many strangers were present
from an inland village on the Astrolabe side. There is not yet much
observance of the Sabbath. Poi, one of the chief men of the place, is
very friendly: he kept quite a party of his inland friends from hunting,
and brought them to the services. Mr. Lawes preached again in the
afternoon. As we went to church in the afternoon the hunters were
returning: they had evidently had a successful day's hunting. During the
day a canoe came in from Hula, laden with old cocoanuts, which were
traded for pottery.
In the evening, an old sorceress died, and great was the wailing over her
body. She was buried on the Monday morning, just opposite the house in