Two Years Among the Savages of New Guinea. With Introductory Notes on North Queensland.   By: W. D. Pitcairn

TWO YEARS AMONG

THE

SAVAGES OF NEW GUINEA.

WITH INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON NORTH QUEENSLAND.

BY

W. D. PITCAIRN,

Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Associate Member of the Manchester Geographical Society.

With a Map.

LONDON: WARD & DOWNEY 12, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C.

1891.

[ All rights reserved. ]

PRINTED BY KELLY AND CO., GATE STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, AND KINGSTON ON THAMES.

TO MY FRIEND

OSCAR SOELBERG,

WITH WHOM I HAVE SPENT MANY HAPPY DAYS IN NEW GUINEA,

I DEDICATE THIS BOOK.

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.