Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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village, and to the east of the rock four large posts beautifully carved.
On feast days, the food is collected close to these, and a platform is
fixed to the posts, on which dancing takes place. We returned at three
p.m. The old chief soon followed us up to the camp with a large present
of food, and saying he hoped we would soon return. I hope the same.
After some delay, so that it might not appear as payment for the present,
we gave our present to the old chief; when he got the tomahawk, he wept
for joy, looked at his friends, then at us, pressed it to his bosom, and
then kissed it. The chiefs name is Kunia.
3_rd_.--We left Makipili this morning at eight o'clock, and came along
leisurely, arriving at Chokinumu at half-past ten. The chief and his
wife who accompanied us pressed us to stay a night in their village, and,
seeing it would displease them if we went on, we consented. We had a
thorough downpour of rain in the afternoon, after a very hot sun, the
thunder rolling all round us. The chief Lohiamalaka and his wife are
exceedingly kind and attentive; they have kept close by us since we left
here on Monday. I am sorry for the Makipili people; they are so afraid
of Sogeri, that they have left their houses, and are living in the bush
and under the shelter of rocks. Sogeri, Makipili says, will listen to no
conditions of peace. Several overtures have been made, but all are
useless. We were told at several places that if we ventured to Makipili
we should never return; but we have been there, were treated kindly, and
pressed to return.
4_th_.--Using our blankets yesterday as a flag for our tent, they got so
wet that it required a day to dry them, so we decided to remain here and
visit the Laroki Falls. Ten days ago, we found from the natives that
they were near here. The native name is _Round_. We found the falls in
a deep gorge formed by the west end of Astrolabe and east end of Vetura
Range. On each side of the gorge the mountains run sharp down, in many