Chapter I: Preface

As every Bill has a preamble, so, I suppose, every book should have a preface. At any rate, such appears to be the universal custom, and I, being of an orthodox turn of mind, am not going to depart from the general rule. Some months ago I mentioned to an acquaintance of mine, a gentleman of considerable literary attainments, that I purposed writing a book on New Guinea, describing my experiences, etc. He replied "Why, the subject is thrashed out, and writings on New Guinea are overdone." I may state that, as the said gentleman had never been in that country, I was not biassed by his opinion.

Had he said that the few writers on New Guinea were thrashed out, he would have been nearer to the mark, as the subject of a country so vast, and the civilised settlement of which is in its infancy, will not be thrashed out for many years to come. We do not all wear the same pair of spectacles. I have endeavoured to describe places and people as they appeared to me. Whether the results as set forth in this work will be found satisfactory or otherwise must be decided by its readers.

W. D. PITCAIRN.

The Vicarage, Eccles, June, 1890.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION.

NORTH QUEENSLAND.

Cooktown--Landing of Capt. Cook--North Shore--Native Fights--Decline of the Race--Endeavour River--Bush Scenery--Birth of Township--Palmer Goldfield--Frank Stubley--Mount Morgan--The Tin Fields--Sugar Cultivation--Bloomfield River--Deserted in the Bush--A Fishing Excursion 1

NEW GUINEA.

CHAPTER I.

THE VOYAGE.

Schooner _Spitfire_--Last Adieus--The Start--The Great Barrier-- Osprey Reef--Wreck of the S.S. _Papua_--"Taking the Sun"-- Somnambulism on the High Seas--Breakers Ahead--Land in Sight-- Brumer Islands--A Dead Calm--H.M.S. _Harrier_--Heath Island-- Natives Come on Board--China Straits--At Anchor 27

CHAPTER II.

THE GOVERNMENT.

British Policy--Death of Sir Peter Scratchley--Hon. John Douglas--Discovery of Gold--Samarai--Native Policy of the Government--China Straits--A Marine Villa--Native Intelligence 40

CHAPTER III.

NATIVE CUSTOMS.

Types--Origin--Religion--Mourning--Marriage--Treatment of Women--Children--Dress--Villages--Land Tenure--Food--Language --Musical Instruments--Native Manufactures 57

CHAPTER IV.

A STORMY TRIP.

Christmas at Samarai--Ah Gim--Expedition to Wari--A Series of Mishaps--The Island of Wari--Chewing Betel-Nut--Smoking--Canoe Trading 72

CHAPTER V.

A GOLDEN PROSPECT.

Arrival of _Juanita_--Origin of Gold Discovery--Fight Between Wagga-Wagga and Tube-Tube Natives--Weapons--Return of _Juanita_ --Trip to Sud-Est--Sud-Est--Head Hunting--Schooner _Hygeia_ left for Rossel Island--Cannibalism 88

CHAPTER VI.

VOYAGE TO BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO.

Return of _Seagull_ from Sud-Est--Capt. Ancell Killed--Native Treachery--_Hygeia_ arrived China Straits--Left for East Cape--Strange Looking Natives at Bentley Bay--Egum (Woodlarks)-- Tokaiakus the Dwarf--Trobriand Group--Met Cutter _Albatross_ --Trade with Natives--I go on Shore--Jurien Island--Waterspout, St. George's Channel--Arrival at Mioko, Duke of York Islands 111

CHAPTER VII.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO.

Mioko--Mr. H----'s Hospitality--Boat Race--Ralume, New Britain-- Mrs. F----'s Plantation--Native Markets in Blanche Bay--Mud Throwing--Volcano--Picnic to Pigeon Island--Samoan Dance 151

CHAPTER VIII.

RETURN VOYAGE.

Left Ralume--St. George's Channel--Fate of Charles Hunstein-- Marquis de Ray's Expedition--Head Winds--Shot a Shark--Pilot Fish--Lost two Buckets Overboard--Arrived Egum--Landed Dwarf-- Obtained large Turtle--Painted Boat--Arrived China Straits-- Christmas Eve 1888. 186

CHAPTER IX.

THE "TRIAL."

Diggers Sick with Fever--The Supreme Court--Reported Murder of S. and W., Ferguson Island--Went in _Alice Meade_ to Rescue--Report Untrue--Schooner _Myrtle_ dismasted--Went in _Juanita_ to her assistance--Dawson Island--Brought _Myrtle_ into Port--Tide Rips--Arrival of _Seagull_--Coffee Plantation on Mainland 203

CHAPTER X.

SOUTH COAST.

I Visit Aroma--Chief Koepina--Village of Hula--Port Moresby--Ascent of Mount Owen Stanley--Sir William MacGregor--Murder of Two White Men at Cloudy Bay 235

CHAPTER XI.

CONCLUSION.

Coastal Formation--Animals &c.--Climate--Population--Products, Present and Future--Native Labour 263

APPENDIX.

Vocabulary of Language 283

TWO YEARS AMONG

THE

SAVAGES OF NEW GUINEA.