Adventures in New Guinea James Chalmers

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true it was the Great Spirit or something is with them." At all the
villages Lohiamalaka repeated all he could remember of what he had been
told, and of our singing and praying. Every evening he would sit at the
tent door and get us to sing for the benefit of a crowd of natives
outside, who, having heard from himself of our musical powers, refused to
go to their homes at sunset, and insisted on remaining until after _noko_
(singing). When the Koiari visit the coast they go in for begging
largely, and they generally get what they ask, as the Motu people are
very much afraid of their spiritual power, they being thought to hold
power over the sun, wind, and rain, and manufacturing or withholding the
latter at will. When the Motu people hear that Koiarians are coming,
they hide their valuables. All the young swells here have head-dresses
of dogs' teeth, got from the seaside natives. At Eikiri, they told us
they got theirs by killing and stealing. We can truly say we are under
arms in this house--sixty-two spears overhead, four shields on walls, and
two stone clubs keeping watch at the door. A Makipili woman has been
telling Kena how she happens to be here. Formerly her people and these
were at enmity. Makipili sought peace, but had no pig. She was selected
to supply want of pig, and taken with food. When she grew up, the old
man (not her husband) insisted on her living with him.
8_th_.--We had six hours' good walking, and are now encamped under the
shade of Vetura. The country from Epakari to here is very ridgy, and,
after leaving the ridges of Epakari, very barren. Coming suddenly on a
large party of men, women, and children returning from a dance, they were
so frightened when we called out, _Naimo_! that they set off, kits,
spears, and drums, and no fine words would bring them back. We have
seven natives with us; the old chief says he must see us safe to
Keninumu. We passed a fine village--Umiakurape--on a ridge west of
Karikatana; the chiefs name is Vaniakoeta. It would make a splendid
station. The high ridge at the back of Epakari, along which we came, is