Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers
88 nights they did all they could to detain us, because of the salt and beads. They were assisted by Oriope, who was anxious that all should go to his cousin and friends, with whom we were staying. In a conversation they had under the house, shortly after we arrived, I could hear sufficient to enable me to understand they would keep us there, and not let other villages get salt and beads. I got thoroughly vexed with the old man, and told him he could return home, and that unless we saw numerous villages with plenty of people we should not again return here. He turned right round, and told us we should see Favele and Meroka, and many villages, only we must return to his cousin's; that was all right, we certainly should return. This morning, I told him to remain and take care of his wife; that the people here would lead us and carry our things. He begged of me to leave some of the things to ensure our return, and I did so. Some of the people here are very dark and others very light. 26_th_.--They tried hard to prevent our going to Meroka this morning, saying we should be eaten by the _Jakoni_ (wild beast)--and how could they return? That would not do--go I must; so I got the things out, and asked some Meroka natives, who had come in, to pick them up and let us start. They refused, and joined in with our friends, saying we had better remain. No; I must see Meroka, and until I saw it not a taro would be bought nor a pile of salt given. They all sat down, looking true savages. After some time, I said, "Meroka, or we return at once." I got my bag and went on to the path; they got up, and called to me to come back--they would go to Meroka, but leave the things, and return here to sleep. No; I must have the things; I might want to sleep at Meroka. That was terrible, the salt would be finished, and there would be none for them here. Would I not consent to their taro being bought, and then they would go with me? No; Meroka first, and taro when we return.
89 Seeing there was nothing for it--that go I would--they consented, and the Meroka folks picked up the things, and away we went. It was a short walk across the side of a ridge, down about 600 feet and up to 1500, and then along another ridge. We soon had crowds to see us, men, women, and children; and all were delighted, for we bought their taro. The village we stayed at was new, and they told us formerly they lived further in on the mountain, but a man was eaten by the _Jakoni_, and they came down. A number of natives were in mourning for the man eaten. After some time, we got up to ascend the ridge, to have a good view of the villages and decide on our position. They tried hard to prevent us, but we went on, a few following to the next village. They pretended great fear of the _Jakoni_, and at some places begged of us to tread lightly, and not to speak. It was all a ruse to get us back. We went on, and up to the highest village, where we had a splendid view. We counted fourteen villages on the ridges in the Meroka basin and on the other side of the river we had crossed, and as many more known as Havele. I believe it would be much easier to get here from Eikiri than from Sogeri. The natives of Oriramamo, the highest village, told us they went from there to Eikiri in one day. The people of Meroka are very mixed, some very dark, others very light. Some of the women had quite an Eastern Polynesian look; some of the children were well-formed, and really pretty. A few men had light-coloured whiskers; curly heads abounded, although a number had straight hair. They say they are not Koiari. The Koiari comprises Munikahila, Eikiri, Sogeri, Taburi, Makapili Pakari; and Eikiri is N.W. from Oriramamo; Mount Bellamy is W.N.W. A high round mountain, I have named Ben Cruachan, east; Mount Nisbet, W.S.W. The high rock on the easterly side of Mount Nisbet is just over the house where we slept, and will be known in future as the Clachan. They say there are five kinds of wild animals on the mountains at the back, and but for these they could
- 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 and 72: 71 gave him some on his taro. He be
- Page 73 and 74: 73 "If you go on you will be devour
- 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: 87 They seem very much attached to
- 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
- Page 123 and 124: 123 not stay if they were to be con
- Page 125 and 126: 125 and praying that He would care
- Page 127 and 128: 127 at from aft, fell overboard, an
- Page 129 and 130: 129 CHAPTER V. EAST CAPE IN 1878 AN
- Page 131 and 132: 131 at East Cape on a Sunday. Morni
88<br />
nights they did all they could to deta<strong>in</strong> us, because of the salt and<br />
beads. They were assisted by Oriope, who was anxious that all should go<br />
to his cous<strong>in</strong> and friends, with whom we were stay<strong>in</strong>g. In a conversation<br />
they had under the house, shortly after we arrived, I could hear<br />
sufficient to enable me to understand they would keep us there, and not<br />
let other villages get salt and beads. I got thoroughly vexed with the<br />
old man, and told him he could return home, and that unless we saw<br />
numerous villages with plenty of people we should not aga<strong>in</strong> return here.<br />
He turned right round, and told us we should see Favele and Meroka, and<br />
many villages, only we must return to his cous<strong>in</strong>'s; that was all right,<br />
we certa<strong>in</strong>ly should return. This morn<strong>in</strong>g, I told him to rema<strong>in</strong> and take<br />
care of his wife; that the people here would lead us and carry our<br />
th<strong>in</strong>gs. He begged of me to leave some of the th<strong>in</strong>gs to ensure our<br />
return, and I did so. Some of the people here are very dark and others<br />
very light.<br />
26_th_.--They tried hard to prevent our go<strong>in</strong>g to Meroka this morn<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
say<strong>in</strong>g we should be eaten by the _Jakoni_ (wild beast)--and how could<br />
they return? That would not do--go I must; so I got the th<strong>in</strong>gs out, and<br />
asked some Meroka natives, who had come <strong>in</strong>, to pick them up and let us<br />
start. They refused, and jo<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> with our friends, say<strong>in</strong>g we had<br />
better rema<strong>in</strong>. No; I must see Meroka, and until I saw it not a taro<br />
would be bought nor a pile of salt given. They all sat down, look<strong>in</strong>g<br />
true savages. After some time, I said, "Meroka, or we return at once." I<br />
got my bag and went on to the path; they got up, and called to me to come<br />
back--they would go to Meroka, but leave the th<strong>in</strong>gs, and return here to<br />
sleep. No; I must have the th<strong>in</strong>gs; I might want to sleep at Meroka. That<br />
was terrible, the salt would be f<strong>in</strong>ished, and there would be none for<br />
them here. Would I not consent to their taro be<strong>in</strong>g bought, and then they<br />
would go with me? No; Meroka first, and taro when we return.
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