in the cutter S--l, and after a smart pass

Chad's Bay, only 30 miles distant from our anchorage. His vessel had then been burnt, after the whole of the "Trade" had been ta

us, but there are exceptions. The Bush tribes are infinitely more savage than those living on the coast, and the latter have a wholesome dread of them, as they perio

nd unless you keep a careful watch and are well armed, they will kill you for the sake of the booty, and then set fire to the vessel. Many a vessel and many a white man have met that untimely fate during the last three years, and among them several of my friends. Looking at it from a philoso

the aboriginal boy of Queensland who was walking behind his master and begged of him permission to go in front, as "he had such an intense desire to kill him." In the English schoolboy, who delights

rained, so we must make some allowances for these wild children of Nature. Maybe, centuries hence, given the same opportunities for advancement that we have had, they, too, will eventual

with whose assistance he purposed giving the perpetrators of the outrage a lesson they would not soon forget. At this time I had made arrangements to go in the cutter S--l on a trading expedition to some of the wildest distr

-g, K--h, chief officer a

s obtained on the beach. It is preferable to bags of sand, as the latter are liable to impede the working of the pump, and, as our little craft h

h is very strong in these waters, running at the rate of six miles

me up out

mists, make

ships and cr

s, the nig

d landward

wake! it i

to the for

ur leafy ba

e wood-bird's

, bird, awak

pe. Not far from here, viz. at Bentley Bay, which lies to the north-west, there are some strange-looking natives. All the men have the fully-develope

mewhat over twenty. Its shores are lined by numbers of villages, all of them densely inhabited and in a prosperous condition. The vil

dens who were seated on the ground, passing the tranquil hours of night in singing and general conversation. The conver

on, her eyes sparkling with fun and humour, a "toga" or scarf was loosely thrown over her left shoulder, serving to heighten the effect of her charms, as she coquettishly tossed her head aside, her eyes at one time pensively looking downwards, a

groves of sago, coco-nut, and the betel palm, extending from the beach for several mil

le. There is but one drawback to this district, viz., the heavy moisture caused by the frequent rains. This excess of moisture makes a prolonged residence in the bay unhealthy. The natives are b

t palms that thrive here. They are to be found in

nuts, from the baby, the size of a walnut, t

e total population of the bay to be not far short of 8,000. From this number a very fair

a lump of coral, and do what we could we were unable to influence it. We were in about seven fathoms of water, and in dangerous proximity to a coral reef, just on our lee. To add to the mortification of our enforced imprisonment, the breeze was every moment increasing in strength. Of course we might have slipped our cable, but what should we have down with only a light anchor to depend upon? We s

n, and one of us suggeste

turn to port. After numerous efforts, we felt a sudden jerk, when up came the anchor with a large lump of coral attached to it. We were s

plantations. The natives, too, are superior, and, in my opinion, thoroughly to be trusted. A native chief, named Paulo, owns consider

s large as an ordinary letter-box. His headquarters are at "Quato," but h

the natives to accompany us on the trip. He signified his willingness, and came on board. We made a start early the next morning, and after accompanying us for a mile, he jumped into his canoe and returned home. As we pu

ellent one, with good holding ground a

oking coral reefs, and in a few hours rounded C

hich we purchased from the natives, keeping our vess

sland "Digaragara." This last is memorable on account of the

ntending the curing of the fish, when the natives, without any warning, suddenly made a dash at him. Some held him while the others put an end to him with their "tomahawks." Miller had a

cal savages punish

victims. His murderers are to this day enjoying their full liberty, and doubtless, when seated arou

e had many friends, was furious when

with the white man, or to have any trading relations with him. Maybe this is partly owing to the terrible scen

ining Kanaka labourers for the sugar plantations in Queensland. The term of

ess in the South Seas rather overdone,

and of her, and McNeil acted as Government agent. The

, they landed in one of their boats and kidnapped the natives against their will. If any struggled they shot

as they could on board, they sailed to Queen

y, and sentenced to be hanged. As is fashionable in such cases, a monster petition was got up by the people of Queensland to reprieve these murderers, and laid before the Executive Council. After long deliberation the Council commuted the sentence to penal servitude for life, the first five years in iron

November, 1889, the Government were seriously considering the a

bjected, as they maintain they cannot afford

caused reprisals on the part of the Nor

ent have to suffer for

th-east. We hugged the coast of Normanby as far as Cape Pearson, when

g mountains runs from Cap

e sailing along with threatening aspect. Strong gusts of wind burst wi

e should have had a bad time of it. As it was, we deemed it prudent to close reef the mainsail and jib. Evidently we were in for

countries, no sooner has the sun set than ni

we had travelled and our proximity to a large island. Knowing that a reef extended from this island, we were most anxious to keep it at a

omrades considered 9.30 to be safer, so, being in the

ook up our respective stations, and watching a good opportunity, sung out "ready" when, with the

ible, but we prepared ourselves to

us that night. The whole of our attention was concentrated on the boat, as the slightest carel

n lined the horizon our pos

should we have been had we "stood on" for a few seconds longer the previous night? Dashed to pieces amongst the coral rocks, and food for the sharks. In less than two minutes we had slackened the

to come spontaneously on board. The chief's wife welcomed us to the island, and stated that a dish of yams was being prepared for our delectation. We sent on

hed visitor was "To

culean chest, with arms the length of a child's. An immense head covered with a shock of hair falling on his neck in ringlets, a flat nose, and a mouth stretching from ear to ear. Add to all a light summer suit consisting of a palm leaf round hi

or a month. The houses on "Egum" were different from those we had been accustomed to. Instead of being built on

without fear of dragging. In navigating these parts you have to trust mainly to your eyesig

by a coral reef on which the surf breaks wit

s came off with the yams

sea air having given us a good appetite. We showed our visitors over the vessel, when they expressed thei

d our cabin. We explained to them that it was a "Sina Dim-dim," i.e. a White Lady, in f

inghy and rowed on shore, leaving

ow how long we intended to stay and whither we were bound? We informed them we were going a long way over the sea to a stra

bagged three or four pigeons. We also obtained some Bêche

was doomed to disappointment. I had received a glowing description of her beauty, and

ious, so, as we wished to fall in with her, we decided to sail on the following day. We invited the dwar

their luggage. Their luggage consisted of two bau-bau pipes, a few betel nuts and two or three native mats. Whatever wardrobe they possessed was left on shore. We conducted them to the "hold," which was to be their

aving finished our business, we left for the Trobriands, hoping to overtak

ale. It is absolutely necessary for one man to stand in the bows and give warning to the helmsman of any reefs or shoals. You can always recognise them by the discoloured water. We often had to sail a

two narrow escapes we managed to keep clear of the hidden dangers and at about four o'clock in the afternoon were in sight of the Trobriands. Knowing that our cutter "A--

the sea was calm save a gentle ripple. All nature smiled, as if conscious of her beauty. It was the most enchanting hour of day-Sunset-whose delights are made more precious by their brevity.

l the truth, they were more glad to see us than we to see them, as there being but two of them, and their boat a small one, it was as much as they could manage to keep the savages in check. They

could have offered a strong resistance. As our boat was the larger of

s, armed with clubs and spears, who might at any time use them. Dozens of magnificent canoes, with from 20 to 30 warriors in each, encircled us, and

ructive powers of a rifle or a revolver. It was their gross superstition. They believe the white man to be a species of "Devil," and possessed of supernatural powers. How fortunate is such

has not gifted me with a fine voice, I treated the company to a song, my friend accompanying me on the violin. The hours flew by until one of our number fell fast asleep, tired out with the

r seen; it must have contained from 300 to 400 houses, and allowing an average of six persons to each house, would have a population of 2,000. At sunrise, dozens of large canoes, in full sail and crowded with natives, arrived upon the scene. Their canoes here are magnificent, all the seams caulked, beautifully carved, and all the sails apparently new; in fact, the canoes themselves appeared quite new. They were infinitely superior and better finished than any I had yet seen. Our little craft was so comp

essel, and then good-bye to dear life. So long as savages believe that you have power over them, you have nothing to fear. Immediately you allow them to consider you in danger or anxious, look out for squalls. Take a man who enters a den of wild beasts, what is it that prevents him being torn to pieces? Is it that he is stronger than those wild beasts? Noth

s for spears, clubs, shields, "chunam" knives, wooden fishhooks, ebony paper-cutters, and even "gods." We also purchased about a ton of yams, which we could easily dispose of at a good profit, in New Britain. Our two native companions, Tokaiakus and Sindiwaia, were unable to speak the language of this part, so we had to do all our business by signs. Tobacco is unknown here, and they would not accept any. Hoop-iron was their great desideratum. Luckily we had some on board. We also did some trading in empty beer-bottles. We first drank the beer, and then exchanged the bottles for Bêche-de-mer. If this method of exchange

my desire, but before trusting myself to the tender mercies of such nice-looking gentlemen, I caused the leading man of the canoe to step on board our vessel, where he would be held as a hostage for my personal safety. He evidently thoroughly

time. I did not understand a solitary word they said, but had an idea they

e to trust myself among a couple of thousand wild animals s

le to avail myself of their polite invitation, but wh

or trees, with a sandy, dry soil. Notwithstanding this, there is a plentiful supply of yams; in f

of their predatory expeditions, covered with glory, and laden with the spoils of war. They had completely routed the enemy, and had burnt their villages. We may deplore the brutality of these intertribal fights, but it is the sefights or wars that perpetuate the race b

in New Guinea, resides in the Trobr

walks a yard, but is always carried on a kind of sedan-chair or stretcher. H

s no r

hiefs are generally the leading men of the village, with a

jects as the autocratic Czar is to the serfs of Russia. I was extremely disappointed at not

to take their fancy immensely. Every now and then, when something fresh attracted their notice, they would rend the skies with their shouts, their mouths wide open with astonishment and admiration. We were no less surprised at the

anoes full of wild and treacherous savages wending their way homewards. What a relief to be rid of them. There is nothing so tiring and trying to the system as being continuously, for hours together, on the watch lest you be taken suddenly by sur

or the Duke of York I

aching our destination. We had no "sheet charts," but that was of no great moment. The south-east "trades" were still blowing, and we hoped they would hold with us unt

couple of bags of Bêche-de-mer, we took farewell

tity of fish, but through a series of gales she found herself at Jurien Island almost dismasted, and minus sails, etc. Here she had perforce to remain at anchor for six months. The anchorage is in a narrow passage between Jurien and a smaller island, and completely hidden from passing vessels. They were obliged to remain prisoners here until the change of the monsoon to the north-west, as wi

t the untimely fate of their cherished offspring. Imagine their intense joy and surprise upon receiving a telegram from their long-lost son, who had arrived safel

ar afterwards the Kate Kearney was wrecked duri

steering a direct course for the Duke of York Islands. The wind holding good, we presently made St. Geor

, "Mioko." The channel is about 15 miles broad

in torrents, accompanied by violent gusts of wind. It is only in the tropics that such rain can be seen. Although well p

vast funnel-shaped column reaching to the clouds above. It was travelling in a southerly direction in dangerous proximity to our vessel. We deemed it prudent to "keep her away" a couple of points, when shortly we had the satisfac

d relief on it, hove in sight. Making sure that these must be the Duke of York Islands, we slightly altered our course, and after a smart run of three hours, e