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Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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58<br />

"No, I cannot stay; but when I return, then pig-eat<strong>in</strong>g"--not a very<br />

pleasant employment when, other th<strong>in</strong>gs can be had.<br />

Pigs are very valuable animals here, and much thought of, and only true<br />

friends can be regaled with them. The women nurse the pig. I have seen<br />

a woman suckl<strong>in</strong>g a child at one breast and a small pig at the other; that<br />

was at South Cape. I have seen it also at Hula and Aroma. Proceed<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

the beach, we parted, old and well-known friends.<br />

"Gidage, must you go?"<br />

"Yes; I cannot now stay, Tamate."<br />

"Go, Gidage; how many moons until you return?"<br />

"Tamate, I cannot say; but hope to return."<br />

"_Kaione_ (good-bye), Tamate."<br />

"_Kaione_, Gidage;" and away he started, leav<strong>in</strong>g Tamate on the beach,<br />

surrounded by an <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g crowd of natives.<br />

It was near here, a few years after, that a _beche-de-mer_ party of seven<br />

were murdered; and on the opposite side of the bay two cedar-seekers were<br />

waylaid, and lost their lives. We went <strong>in</strong>to Sandbank Bay, and I landed<br />

at the village of Domara. What a scene it was! The women rushed <strong>in</strong>to<br />

the long grass, and I was led, after a good deal of talk, up to the<br />

village--only to see, at the other end, grass petticoats disappear<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

the wearers hidden by the quantity of stuff they were carry<strong>in</strong>g. One poor<br />

woman, heavily laden with treasures, had perched above all her child, and<br />

away she, too, was fly<strong>in</strong>g. Never had white man landed there before, and

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