Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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Communication was held with some two hundred villages, one hundred and
five were personally visited, and ninety for the first time by a white
man. Several bays, harbours, rivers, and islands were discovered and
named; the country between Meikle and Orangerie Bays, together with that
lying at the back of Kerepunu was explored, and the entire coast line
from Keppel Point to McFarlane Harbour, traversed on foot.
In travelling through a new country, it is impossible not to have many
experiences that may interest those at home, although to the traveller
they may seem of little moment. In May, 1878, I began my journeys on New
Guinea, in parts hereto unknown, and amongst tribes supposed to be
hostile. I resolved, come what might, to travel unarmed, trusting to Him
in whose work I was engaged, and feeling that no harm could come to me
while in His care.
On leaving Heath Island, we really began on new and little-known seas and
country, and we first anchored in a bay we called Inverary Bay. On
landing, we were met by a few men, the others coming out with goods and
chattels. We steamed round by the Leocadie, through what forms a good
harbour for small vessels, and over by the sandbanks in Catamaran Bay. We
called at Tanosina, to the east of the Leocadie, landing with caution, as
these people had been rather troublesome on our first arrival at South
Cape, and were very anxious to avenge the man shot on board the _Mayri_.
They did not receive us heartily, and seemed inclined to be impudent, so
I thought it best, after giving one or two presents, to get quietly to
the boat and away. I may here say that in after-times these people were
very friendly, and helped us much in our work. We visited all round the
bay, returning to South Cape.
After getting a supply of water and fuel on board, we started again,
going east round Rugged Head to Farm Bay, and well up to the head of the