Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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islands in Amazon Bay, where we intended to spend a quiet Sabbath after a
hard week's work, and previous to beginning another. After anchoring,
canoes with men and boys kept crossing from the mainland, and all day
Sunday it was the same. They halted at the islands, and with the next
tide went on to Toulon. Landing on the Saturday evening to shoot
pigeons, we met several natives, and learned that their plantations were
on the mainland, and that they crossed to plant and fight, taking their
boys with them. Afterwards at Aroma, they told me they left their wives
and daughters at home in charge of a few men, whilst the majority crossed
to the main, and stayed away for some time, returning with food, to spend
a few days at home on the island. During their absence, the women sail
about and trade, going as far as Dedele in Cloudy Bay, being one and the
same people. Canoes from the westward might have called at Toulon when
the men were on the mainland fighting and planting, and seeing only
women, would soon report a woman's land. Many years ago an Elema canoe
was carried away there. They were kindly treated by the Amazons, but at
Dedele on returning, were attacked and several killed; they naturally
reported a woman's land too.
The following week we visited Dedele in Cloudy Bay, which had been
visited two years previously by Messrs. Lawes and McFarlane. The village
was barricaded with high and thick mangrove sticks, with a narrow opening
to the sea. They objected to my landing, and formed a crescent in front
of the boat. I sprung ashore and asked for the chief. I held out a
piece of hoop-iron, and a rather short, well-built man, dressed with
boar's tusks and other ornaments, stepped forward and took my present. He
took me by the hand, and led me to the village, just allowing me to peep
in at the opening. I could see the women rushing out by an opening at
the other side; pigs, dogs, nets, and other valuables were being carried
off; they were rushing off wildly away into the bush. I was very anxious
to get right in, and meant to before I went to the boat. My beads were