Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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_Nao_, _nao_! (foreigners), and ran back with their spears. The village
is small, and the houses very dilapidated; it is 1800 feet above
sea-level. Maka was buying taro with salt, and having finished, some
natives noticed damp salt adhering to his hand; they seized the hand, and
in turn licked it until quite clean. Grains of salt falling were sought
for and picked up. The shields here are the same as at Hood Bay,
beautifully made. They are going to fight soon with another district,
and are making great preparations in spears, clubs, and shields.
23rd.--Our spiritist gave us a very short and indistinct seance last
night. A man speared the other day in a wallaby hunt, near the Laroki,
he told us, was dead. He seemed to be raving a great deal, and wound up
the first part with, _Nao kuku daure_ (Foreign tobacco is bad).
Continuing to rave and disturb sleep, I told Oriope that, if that spirit
did not at once go back where it came from, I should certainly have to
make it; he reported what I said, and the spirit thought it advisable to
leave. We started this morning after a good breakfast, and had good
travelling across a fine level country E.S.E. for about four hours,
crossing several times the head of the Laroki: it is a magnificent
country for horses. In somewhat thick scrub, a youth met the first of
our party, and was fraternizing very feelingly with them: I appeared, and
he took to his heels, and no calling of friends or foreigners could bring
him back. We came suddenly upon a woman and two children, and, poor
things! they went into a terrible state; nothing would comfort them;
beads, tobacco, and salt lost their charm on them. The family pig was
with them; it danced, grunted, advanced, retired, and finally made at me.
In the morning I took a piece of plaster from my heel, and threw it into
the fireplace; instant search was made for it by about a dozen natives;
it was found, and handed back to me, they making signs that I should
throw it somewhere else. Yesterday morning I unthinkingly put the loose
hair from my comb into the fire, and great was the outcry.