Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

25
About three in the afternoon, an old woman made her appearance at the
door of the mission house, bawling out, "Well, what liars these Hula
people are; some of them were inland this morning, and the chief asked
them if _Misi Lao_ had come, and they said no." The chief, who saw the
vessel from the hill top where his village is, thought it strange the
vessel should be there without _Misi Lao_, so sent this woman to learn
the truth. She received a present for herself and the chief, and went
away quite happy.
Next morning, November 6th, we left Hula with a fair wind, and were
anchored close to Kerepunu by nine o'clock. The _Bertha_ was anchored
fully two miles off. Kerepunu is a magnificent place, and its people are
very fine-looking. It is one large town of seven districts, with fine
houses, all arranged in streets, crotons and other plants growing about,
and cockatoos perching in front of nearly every house. One part of the
population plant, another fish, and the planters buy the fish with their
produce. Men, women, and children are all workers; they go to their
plantations in the morning and return to their homes in the evening, only
sick ones remaining at home; thus accounting for the number of scrofulous
people we saw going about when we first landed. They have a rule, to
which they strictly adhere all the year round, of working for two days
and resting the third.
The _Bertha_ arrived here on Friday evening. Mrs. Chalmers was at the
forenoon service on the Sunday, and found there a large congregation. The
service was held on the platform of one of the largest houses. Anedered
preached, a number sitting on the platform, others in the house, others
on the ground all round, and many at the doors of their own houses, where
they could hear all that was said.