Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
72 admiration was great, the natives viewing it from underneath then from a distance, and in each position noticing something new. About half-past eleven we left. The old chief and four carriers went with us. After crossing the head of the Munikahila Creek we passed through fine thicklywooded country, that may yet become a very extensive coffee country. After travelling for some hours, we camped 1800 feet above sea-level. On the way the carriers struck and were for going back, but we insisted on their going on a little further. Strange formation of country all around here. This ridge seems alone in a large basin, one side of which is bare perpendicular rock. There is a good quantity of cedar, but so difficult to get away that it would never pay to work. We are north-east from Uakinumu. 30_th_.--We started late, continued our journey along the ridge, rising gradually to 2250 feet, and then along a fine level country for some miles, when we began to descend. Soon our old friend began shouting, and received an answer from a village a long way off. Close by us was a very steep descent, down which we went till we came under the shadow of a great rock, where we rested, and in about an hour up came ten natives unarmed, touched our chins, and we theirs, then all squatted to smoke. One of them, some time ago, had been to the coast, and knew Rua; his joy at now seeing him in here was great. A shot had been fired at a cockatoo before they heard the shouting, and they were much afraid. When all seemed satisfied, and the crust of the news broken, I proposed a start, so up bundles, and away we went. When having gone about two miles, there was a halt in an open space, and we were given to understand we must camp there. I could not agree to it, "We must go on to the village." "No, you must stay here." "We cannot; we must go on."
73 "If you go on you will be devoured by the _boroma badababa_ (great pig)." I insisted upon going on; they called to those in the village, and on being answered we again went on for about half a mile, when every bundle was put down and a halt called, and again we had to listen to the unintelligible story of the wild animal or animals that would destroy us. We sat down and tried to get them to see as we did, that a house was necessary for our comfort. A thunderstorm was working up, and soon the rain would be down on us--let us be off for the village. They had a long confab with those in the village on the ridge, which, when ended, seemed favourable; and so up the steep side of the ridge we went. When halfway up they halted, and wanted us to camp under the shelter of a great rock. Seeing some young men with bundles rounding the rock, I joined myself to them, and away we went, followed by the others to the village. Under the first house in the village sat a man, with a large pig standing by him, which he was clapping and scratching, as if to keep it quiet; and as we went along we saw great pigs under the houses. Certainly they were savage-looking pigs. We were given an open house, and the rain was coming on. I was ascending, when it became necessary to spring from a pig that was after me. Is this Goldie's big beast the natives told him of? This is a fine country. We passed through large plantations of yams, taro, sugar-cane, and bananas. During the evening we had crowds of men and lads--no women or children--to see us. Some are quite light copper-coloured, others are very dark; nearly all are dressed with cassowary feathers; many with ruffs round their necks made from these feathers. There were none very tall, but all seem well-built men, with good muscle. They have the same calabashes and chunam sticks for betelchewing as at Kerepunu. Some chunam sticks made from cassowary bones are well carved. They are a very noisy lot; one would think they were trying to see who could speak the loudest. They tell us it is impossible to cross to the other side, as further inland the ridge ends--and there is
- Page 21 and 22: 21 been about thirty miles off, and
- Page 23 and 24: 23 We walked about seven miles thro
- Page 25 and 26: 25 About three in the afternoon, an
- Page 27 and 28: 27 exchanging names with us, in hop
- Page 29 and 30: 29 were still mourning. There had b
- Page 31 and 32: 31 came off to us in a small one. W
- Page 33 and 34: 33 who considers himself the chief
- Page 35 and 36: 35 walls and roof finished, when al
- Page 37 and 38: 37 moment, and one in which I am su
- Page 39 and 40: 39 natives that I had hoped to go a
- Page 41 and 42: 41 arm. On running through the vill
- Page 43 and 44: 43 child. The people continued trou
- Page 45 and 46: 45 Communication was held with some
- Page 47 and 48: 47 astern, that the first canoe wou
- Page 49 and 50: 49 formation of the land and the ma
- Page 51 and 52: 51 me, I shall return." It had the
- Page 53 and 54: 53 "Oh no, my friends; pull, you mu
- Page 55 and 56: 55 A girl steals out from the crowd
- Page 57 and 58: 57 all done up in small parcels, so
- Page 59 and 60: 59 who knows what he may be up to?
- Page 61 and 62: 61 in the distance, numbers more si
- Page 63 and 64: 63 When in the boat, we asked the H
- Page 65 and 66: 65 When sickness is in the family,
- Page 67 and 68: 67 16_th_.--Ruatoka, Joe (an Africa
- Page 69 and 70: 69 20_th_.--Yesterday evening, abou
- Page 71: 71 gave him some on his taro. He be
- Page 75 and 76: 75 teeth, hold with one hand, and w
- Page 77 and 78: 77 understand them. It is very conv
- Page 79 and 80: 79 to get tobacco and salt, their h
- Page 81 and 82: 81 Owen Stanley. There will be plen
- Page 83 and 84: 83 20_th_.--Last night, after turni
- Page 85 and 86: 85 _Nao_, _nao_! (foreigners), and
- Page 87 and 88: 87 They seem very much attached to
- Page 89 and 90: 89 Seeing there was nothing for it-
- Page 91 and 92: 91 Sogerians. I was sitting on the
- Page 93 and 94: 93 natives. This part of the plain
- Page 95 and 96: 95 streams from the Astrolabe Range
- Page 97 and 98: 97 places precipitous rocks. The fa
- Page 99 and 100: 99 true it was the Great Spirit or
- Page 101 and 102: 101 grass bound tight at one end, a
- Page 103 and 104: 103 afraid, expecting a raid, and a
- Page 105 and 106: 105 "I am going to Motumotu, and no
- Page 107 and 108: 107 the sea was too high, breaking
- Page 109 and 110: 109 different. To get into Motumotu
- Page 111 and 112: 111 I landed with them, and went up
- Page 113 and 114: 113 In the afternoon we held servic
- Page 115 and 116: 115 CHAPTER V. THE KALO MASSACRE. T
- Page 117 and 118: 117 and, after the first moments of
- Page 119 and 120: 119 at once offered me as much land
- Page 121 and 122: 121 fighting all round, avenging Oa
72<br />
admiration was great, the natives view<strong>in</strong>g it from underneath then from a<br />
distance, and <strong>in</strong> each position notic<strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g new. About half-past<br />
eleven we left. The old chief and four carriers went with us. After<br />
cross<strong>in</strong>g the head of the Munikahila Creek we passed through f<strong>in</strong>e thicklywooded<br />
country, that may yet become a very extensive coffee country.<br />
After travell<strong>in</strong>g for some hours, we camped 1800 feet above sea-level. On<br />
the way the carriers struck and were for go<strong>in</strong>g back, but we <strong>in</strong>sisted on<br />
their go<strong>in</strong>g on a little further. Strange formation of country all around<br />
here. This ridge seems alone <strong>in</strong> a large bas<strong>in</strong>, one side of which is bare<br />
perpendicular rock. There is a good quantity of cedar, but so difficult<br />
to get away that it would never pay to work. We are north-east from<br />
Uak<strong>in</strong>umu.<br />
30_th_.--We started late, cont<strong>in</strong>ued our journey along the ridge, ris<strong>in</strong>g<br />
gradually to 2250 feet, and then along a f<strong>in</strong>e level country for some<br />
miles, when we began to descend. Soon our old friend began shout<strong>in</strong>g, and<br />
received an answer from a village a long way off. Close by us was a very<br />
steep descent, down which we went till we came under the shadow of a<br />
great rock, where we rested, and <strong>in</strong> about an hour up came ten natives<br />
unarmed, touched our ch<strong>in</strong>s, and we theirs, then all squatted to smoke.<br />
One of them, some time ago, had been to the coast, and knew Rua; his joy<br />
at now see<strong>in</strong>g him <strong>in</strong> here was great. A shot had been fired at a cockatoo<br />
before they heard the shout<strong>in</strong>g, and they were much afraid. When all<br />
seemed satisfied, and the crust of the news broken, I proposed a start,<br />
so up bundles, and away we went. When hav<strong>in</strong>g gone about two miles, there<br />
was a halt <strong>in</strong> an open space, and we were given to understand we must camp<br />
there. I could not agree to it, "We must go on to the village." "No,<br />
you must stay here."<br />
"We cannot; we must go on."
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