14 The cutter was now about a mile distant to the south-east, but it was a question whether the Nancy could cut her off before she had run past to the north and darkness had come on. The Nancy's flag was run up to the mast-head and hauled down again several times in the hope of attracting her attention. At length Adam thought they had got near enough to rake themselves heard, for though the gloom of night had come on, the cutter's phantom-like form could now be seen, as she glided onward over the smooth sea. "Now, lads, I will give the word, and we will shout together," cried Adam, and he and his crew, with Headland and Harry joining their voices, sent a loud shout across the ocean. Directly afterwards the cutter was seen to haul up towards them. "They have heard us, they have heard us," he exclaimed. "Wait a bit, lads, we will give them another." After the second shout the cutter was hove to, and the Nancy was soon alongside. "What is it you want, my men ?" asked the commander, looking down into the boat. Harry explained what had happened. "I shall be glad to lay hands on the lugger, you may depend on that, for she has given me more trouble than any other craft on this coast," he answered. "We have two of our boats away, and are short-handed, though we would tackle the fellow as we are. It would be better if some of your men would come on board, and if we can overtake the lugger they will be able to identify the lad you are in search of." "I will willingly accompany you," said Harry, who, knowing how anxious May was about Jacob, wished to do what he thought she would desire. "I "If the captain will take charge of the Nancy, I will go also with two of my lads," said Adam. would take more, but must not leave the craft with fewer hands on board." Headland was well pleased with the arrangement, and undertook to escort Julia back to Texford, if she had not already gone when he arrived at Downside. There was no time to consider the matter further, as not a moment was to be lost, or there would be no prospect of overtaking the lugger. "I hope that you will be back to-morrow, Harry, and I will ride over to Hurlston to meet you," said Headland, as he stepped into the boat. The cutter immediately kept away in the direction the lugger had last been seen, while the Nancy, hauling her wind, prepared to beat back to the shore. Christian. The highest point of Mer is 750 feet | tants desired a teacher. The reply being encouraging, His he returned to Erub to fetch his wife and his excellent fellow-countryman "Tom." On Murray Island Mataika at once became popular by his open, pleasant manner and invariable good-humour. activity in going about amongst these islanders to induce them to give up heathenism and to attend divine worship is most praiseworthy. All the Murray Islanders constantly wear some clothing. Mataika expressively remarked, "They are beginning to feel shame." This is a great stride in civilisation. We landed at 2 P.M., and found Mataika's house to be a most creditable affair. The enclosure was crowded with natives anxious to get sight of the first white missionaries that had landed on their island. At 3 P.M. a long steel bar was struck instead of a bell, and service was held in a long open shed. Two chairs-all they could boast-were placed in the centre for the missionaries. The men sat in front, the women behind. A great number squatted outside in the hot sun, as there was not sufficient room inside. Four men perched themselves on a carpenter's bench as a place of dignity. A young fellow just in front of us gloried in a chaplet of brilliant red hibiscus flowers; another wore a headdress of cassowary feathers from New Guinea. Most of the male auditory wore necklaces of mother-ofpearl cut in diamonds, the white pearl finely contrasting with the black skins of the wearers. A few wore crescent-shaped breast ornaments, also of mother-ofpearl. All listened attentively to Mr. Murray's address as translated by Mataika. As yet no hymns or portions of Scripture have been translated into their language. But few left at the conclusion of the service; the majority spent the night in the mission premises, burrowing into the hot sand for a covering. A fire was kept up all through the night. Gifts of food were next day made to the missionary party and to the pro tempore mission vessel. The pile stood nearly as high as myself; and this at the first sight of missionaries! Mataika and his wife enjoy good health. As soon as the rainy season is past he proposes to build a church. Hitherto he has wisely been content with the open shed referred to, through fear of overtasking the people with work. The population is on the increase. Only one baby has been buried alive during the residence of Mataika here. Like their friends, the Darnley Islanders, they have engaged to abstain from infanticide in future. These people amusingly divide mankind into two classes missionary people who wear clothes, and those who have no missionary and wear no clothes. As yet Mataika has not openly opposed the two great evils of this little group-polygamy and nightdances. But when the heathen come to him to inquire about Christianity, he tells them what are its requirements in relation to these things. usual grass petticoat, her children that night put up a new defence of long cocoa-palm fronds. Unlike the Malayans, the Papuans have no great national gods. The Torres Straits Islanders worship, first, round painted stones, to give success in fishing, to change the wind, etc., etc.; secondly, they delight to worship the manes of their deceased ancestors, as represented by male and female skulls. These are carefully treasured up in their huts and carried with them on their voyages. All the heathen world over the dead receive worship. I once possessed a neat casket worn by a Loyalty Islander round the neck as a sure protection against spear-thrusts and club-blows. Inside the casket was a thumb-bone, outside a thumbnail (of extraordinary length), extracted by the son from the corpse of his father. On the owner's professing Christianity this talisman was given up. Papists worship the relics of strangers, these islanders the relics of those who cherished them in life. In the Line Islands, as in the Straits, the inhabitants worship the skulls of their ancestors. build a canoe. Two teachers were left here temporarily. Upon the return of the mission boat they will be conveyed to Masik, or York Island. Masik, with six small islands in the immediate neighbourhood, will be their About a hundred yards from the mission house"parish." To visit these islets they must buy or was suspended from a tree the mummy of a warrior who was shot four years ago by the whites. His eyes are now mother-of-pearl, the nose of wood. Hard by was a female mummy. Such was the excitement occasioned by our looking at these ghastly relics of mortality, that all the mummies in the village save one were removed to a distance by moonlight. The exception was the mummy of an aged woman, well hidden in the plantation which she had cultivated in life. Stretched on a platform, with the A great variety of shells is obtainable here. Few, however, were new to me. Everywhere in these islands the giant pod of the Entada scandens is used by the night-dancers as a rattle, a pod being held in each hand. Upon our return from a trip to the south-eastern peninsula of New Guinea, on Sabbath, December 1st, we touched at Bampton Island, or Barama. This excessively low island is separated from the main land of Daudai by a narrow strait. It is in reality | height, and consisted of a number of stakes driven as much a part of New Guinea as the Isle of Wight into the ground, covered with lattice-work. At inis part and parcel of England. We saw the entrance tervals along the top were hung wooden images of to the great Fly River, which is five miles across at turtle, sharks, alligators (teeth much exaggerated), its mouth. Bampton Island is from ten to twelve dingoes, and cassowaries, all painted red, to the miles in circumference, with a population of 500 or number of about thirty. At the base were placed in 600 inhabitants. a row some round stones, i.e., gods, and, until recently, human skulls. A large single canoe, with a double outrigger, hollowed out of a single tree, came off to the ship. We measured it, and found it to be sixty feet long. Fifteen men paddled it. For some time they remained at a safe distance, wondering at the largest vessel ever seen here; but on recognising "Tom," whom they had met on Erub, they shouted for joy and hastened on board. In their hurry two of their number fell overboard, but not wearing a vestige of clothing this was of little consequence. Crowding about the whites on deck, some of them looked earnestly into Mr. Murray's face (remembering to have seen him on Darnley in 1871), and correctly pronounced his name. Confidence was now established, and a general shaking of hands followed. Tom led them all down into the main hold, and held a short service with them. To the astonishment of all on board their behaviour was most reverent, their hands covering their faces during prayer. In the afternoon we went ashore in the dingey. The two teachers intended for this place obtained a passage in the canoe. Upwards of thirty athletic men stood on a long sand-flat far from the shore watching us. At length a countryman of theirs stood upon the raised platform of the canoe, and shouted, "The missionaries are come!" The watchers on the sandbank now waded to our boat, gave us a most cordial greeting, and accompanied us ashore. On account of the extreme shallowness of the water (it is so everywhere on the south-west coast of New Guinea) we waded for nearly a mile. On reaching the shore I entered a very long house, built in approved New Guinea style on piles, with end verandahs. Inside were sleeping-cribs for thirty married couples, a fireplace, and a small pile of firewood. At the farther end was a decrepit woman crooning over a fire-the rest of the women and the children were hiding in the bush. Near the landingplace, between two trees, was a large pile of dugong bones. A number of turtle-skulls were tastefully arranged in front. In the exact centre was the skull of a man-maybe of some noted turtle-catcher. All these skulls had red crosses painted on them; this is the marae of the dugong and turtle-giving god. Here, too, these much-prized fish are divided out, a portion being first offered to the deity. Close by were two or three new graves. The dead are buried here, not strung up in trees or laid on platforms in the open-air near their late dwellings -the skulls eventually receiving divine honours. A fire was burning at the head of the most recent grave. A bunch of bananas hung from a pole. On a forked stake at the head of each grave were suspended three young cocoa-nuts for the use of the dead, also a well-filled basket. Cautiously peering into one of these baskets, I found that each pilgrimspirit was provided with a couple of drinking-cups, a pipe, fire-sticks, a small mat, and some fish-hooks. What more could it possibly require according to their materialistic ideas? A hundred yards farther on were two funeral screens, so arranged as to give one the idea of a passage between. They were five feet six inches in On getting back to the landing-place we saw Tom standing in the midst of seventy-one finely-developed Papuans, all quietly sitting on the grass. Outside the charmed circle squatted a teacher's wife on capital terms with a native female, who had crawled out of the bush at seeing one of her own sex. Tom explained to the crowd our object in coming here. They vociferated that they had heard that we intended to pay them a visit. "But do you wish for teachers? asked Tom. "Yes, yes," was the universal response. "Will you take care of them?" "Most certainly we will," they replied. It was needful to start at once, as the yacht was necessarily anchored three miles off, and the tide had long since left our boat high and dry. We told them that we would come ashore again in the morning. Tom and Mataio were to sleep ashore to ascertain the real feeling of the people. Not a weapon was seen by any of our party. They were pleased at our asking for young cocoa-nuts to drink, and liberally supplied our wants. It was a matter of no small difficulty to get back to the yacht. After pulling for some time we got aground, and were compelled to drag the boat a long way over a number of sandbanks. We should not have succeeded at all had not some Bāramā men kindly come to our assistance. By sunset our craft was happily found to have been unwittingly anchored in a natural basin entirely surrounded by sandbanks, the great Warrior reef being uncomfortably near. At seven A.M. next day Tom and Mataio came off in the big canoe to fetch the teachers' goods. Their report was most encouraging. It seems there is a second village on Bampton Island. Accordingly, it was arranged among themselves that Mataio should live at one, and Cho at the other. These islanders have hitherto been regarded as some of the fiercest in the Straits, being always at war with some of the tribes living on the banks of the neighbouring Fly River on the mainland. Ere we left we learned that they were preparing for a new raid upon Daudai. They in vain begged of us guns to assist in the projected expedition. The property of the teachers was cheerfully taken ashore in the big canoe at one trip, thus saving us a day's hard work in the dingey. We pulled ashore in an empty boat, expecting of course to beat the heavily-laden canoe. But the Bāramā men, divining our purpose, tugged away with their poles, versus our oars, and got ashore before us. In five minutes more every package and box was safely deposited in the house allotted to our teachers. Whilst the native brethren were busy arranging their house, Mr. Murray and I walked some distance along the shore, in the hope of falling in with a more suitable site for a mission residence. How different the aspect of the village to-day! Hundreds of women and children looked out upon us with a kindly welcome from their long tunnel-like dwellings. Yet on approaching some of them, they literally shook with fear. Others took to their heels. The heads of the women are invariably shaved. They wear a leaf girdle. It is a curious circumstance that in several | meration of the South Sea Islanders. On Masik, islands in the Straits the men wear wigs. Every- Zamut, Mauar, Aureed, Purem, Warber, Yama, where amongst these dark-skinned Papuans the Nagi, Tut, Mooa, Bātu, Mapuagi, and Muralug, the women do all the hard work, and, in fact, are treated numerals run thus:as mere beasts of burden. A young man, who laughingly pointed out to us his two wives, volunteered to act as our guide. We were amazed at the extent and excellence of their plantations. Not a weed was to be seen. Cocoanut trees laden with fruit, bananas, sugar-cane, sweet yams, and sweet potatoes were growing in profusion. Trenches ran in all directions to drain off the waters of the wet season. They are in the habit of wrapping up bunches of bananas while growing, so that, when ripe, rind and fruit may be eaten. This practice, which is unknown to the South Sea Islanders, obtains all through south-western New Guinea. We saw a brace of pheasants that seemed half-tame; possibly the natives do not kill them on account of their eggs. Numerous mound-nests, built by the Megapodius tumulus, line the shore, in size just half that we measured on the banks of the Manumanu river. Several varieties of crotons and dracona (augustifolia, etc.) adorn their gardens, planted (as we were informed) for their night-dances. Rows of white shells were, in many instances, prettily ranged round the trunks of trees and along the trenches. It was necessary to cross a salt-water creek. This we did by a bridge well built of cross sticks securely tied together. The land seemed depressed towards the interior, the highest part being the sandbank on which the village is built. The tide was at its height, actually encroaching on the public road. Were it to rise a few inches higher, the sea would sweep over the entire island. Scores of pelicans, curlews, herons, etc., looked up at us out of the long grass and the low mangrove bushes, without attempting to fly away. The Mimusops Kauki grows here; but not so plentifully as in some other islands in the Straits. The rattan cane abounds. A quantity of sweet potatoes was obtained, but of a kind far inferior to what is common throughout Polynesia. On our return from our pleasant ramble we noticed a fine cocoa-nut tree, covered with fruit, lying across our path. By a strange symbolism it had been felled because its proprietor had died. In what may now be called the mission premises we met the three chiefs and some others, to give the teachers into their care, begging them to be kind to them. Of course, presents were made to these chiefs. It was amusing to see the interest of some of the outsiders at the sight of the knives, red handkerchiefs, and beads. Some women, who had hitherto kept a respectful distance, now drew near, and dextrously balancing their infants on their shoulders, stood tip-toe behind the men to get a sight of these wonderful novelties. Bāramā men are avowedly cannibals. An unmarried man of about twenty boasted that he had devoured three Daudai warriors. Pointing to an elderly countryman, "Shark " said in broken English, "He eat plenty man, plenty man." To our remark, "That no good-to eat man," he scornfully replied, "You no savi (know)." "Shark" had picked up some English amongst the pearl-divers. A word about the numerals of the Torres Straits Islanders. Theirs is, perhaps, the worst system of computation in the world, the Australian excepted, and stands in striking contrast to the excellent nu warabon augosa = 2 11 S "warabon augosa 99 To count three, they say (1+2). (2+2). 66 augosa augosa warabon" On Erub, Murray, and Ugar they count similarly:nethat = 11 nes = 2 ] To count three, they say "nethat nes (1+2). To count five, they say "nes nes nethat" (2+2+1). The numerals used by the aborigines of Cape York are slightly better: Pirman 1. Labai = 2. Ilānamina = 3. Ungatua = "the whole (hand)," i.c., five. Anything above ten the Torres Straits Islanders count visibly, thus: Touch each finger, then the wrist, elbow, and shoulder-joints on the right side of the body; next touch the sternum and proceed to the joints of the left, not forgetting the fingers of the left hand. This will give seventeen. If this suffice not, count the toes, the ankle, knee, and hip-joints (right and left). This will give sixteen, the entire process yielding thirty-three. Anything beyond can be enumerated only by help of a bundle of sticks. On Friday, December 6th, we returned to Somerset, deeply thankful for the success which had attended our mission. On the following Sabbath morning seventeen aborigines attended divine worship. About two miles in the interior is their village, which we visited one evening at dusk, that being the time when these poor children of nature assemble. A few fled at our approach. Upwards of a hundred were huddled round their fires eating. The women had baskets filled with coarse wild fruits, the men a few fish or eggs. One group was singing and dancing. It was pleasing to see the influence exercised over the females by a pious woman from the Loyalty group living in the missionary's family. A teacher will be appointed to labour permanently amongst these aborigines of Northern Australia. As the north-west monsoon begins here in the middle of December, the pearl-vessels availed themselves of it to return to Sydney. The captain of the yacht Vivienne, twelve tons, kindly offered the writer a free passage to Cardwell. On the 16th of December I bade farewell to our friends at Cape York and started for Rockingham Bay en route for Sydney. The latest accounts from these islands are cheering. Since the catastrophe on Bampton Island (referred to in a previous paper), one death by disease has occurred. The teachers are everywhere kindly received, the natives begin to understand their motives, people and chiefs vie with each other in showing them kindness. At the earnest request of the natives of Tut a teacher has again been stationed there, despite the scarcity of good drinking water. A broad sheet-the first attempt-has been printed in the dialect of Erub and Mer, and schools have been established. Old and young of both sexes are engaged in acquiring the arts of reading and writing. |