Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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large war canoes, with conch-shells blowing, appeared off the mainland
and paddled across the Mayri Straits. Soon a large war canoe appeared
near the vessel. A great many small canoes from various parts of the
mainland were ordered off by those on whose side we were anchored. They
had to leave. On their departure a great shout was raised by the
victorious party, and in a short time all returned quietly to their
bartering. It seemed that the Stacy Islanders wished to keep all the
bartering to themselves. They did not wish the rest to obtain hoop-iron
or any other foreign wealth. They are at feud with one party on the
mainland, and I suppose in their late contests have been victorious, for
they told us with great exultation that they had lately killed and eaten
ten of their enemies from the mainland.
About nine, we went ashore near the anchorage. I crossed the island to
the village, but did not feel satisfied as to the position. One of our
guides to the village wore, as an armlet, the jawbone of a man from the
mainland he had killed and eaten; others strutted about with human bones
dangling from their hair, and about their necks. It is only the village
Tepauri on the mainland with which they are unfriendly. We returned to
the boat, and sailed along the coast. On turning a cape, we came to a
pretty village, on a well-wooded point. The people were friendly, and
led us to see the water, of which there is a good supply. This is the
spot for which we have been in search as a station for beginning work. We
can go anywhere from here, and are surrounded by villages. The mainland
is not more than a gunshot across. God has led us. We made arrangements
for a house for the teachers; then returned to the vessel.
In the afternoon, I landed the teachers, their wives, and part of their
goods--the people helping to carry the stuff to the house. The house in
which the teachers are to reside till our own is finished is the largest
in the place, but they can only get the use of one end of it--the owner,