Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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in the distance, numbers more sitting on the beach, and armed. Some of
those following us were armed. When within two miles of where the boat
was to await us, we came upon a crowd of men and women; the former
carried spears, clubs, or pieces of hard wood, used in opening cocoa
nuts; the women had clubs. Some time before this, I said to the teacher
and Loyalty islander, "Keep a good look-out; I fear there is mischief
here." When we came upon the last group, I asked for a cocoanut in
exchange for beads; the man was giving it to me, when a young man stepped
forward and sent him back. We hastened our steps, so as to get to the
village, where the strangers from Mailukolo and Kapumari might help us.
The teacher heard them discussing as to the best place for the attack;
and, not knowing that he knew what they said, he heard much that left no
doubt in our minds that murder was meant. I carried a satchel, which had
beads and hoop-iron in it; they tried to get it. I gave presents of
beads; some were indignantly returned. I was in front, between two men
with clubs, who kept telling me I was a bad man. I held their hands, and
kept them so that they could not use their clubs. The Loyalty islander
had a fowling-piece--thinking we might be away some days, and we might
have to shoot our dinners. They tried hard to get him to fire it off,
and twice tried to wrest it from him. They know what guns are, and with
reason. They tried to trip us; they jostled us. On we went.
Two men, when near the village, came close up behind me with large wooden
clubs, which were taken from them by two women, who ran off to the
village. Things looked black, and each of us prayed in silence to Him
who rules over the heathen. Soon a man came rushing along, seized the
club, and took it from the man on my left, and threw it in the sea. He
tried to do the same with the one on my right; but he was too light a
man, and did not succeed. An old woman, when at the point, came out and
asked them what they meant, and followed us, talking to them all the way,
so dividing their thoughts. An old chief, whom we saw on our way up,