Part 3 (1/2)
After getting a supply of water and fuel on board, we started again, going east round Rugged Head to Far opposite to Naroopoo I landed, and soon had an ad crowd round me I was dressed in white, with black leather boots
Sitting on a verandah, so than others, would coers, and run away Again and again this was done by the bold ones, who always eyed e, came up, touchedall over, but horror of horrors, to add to her fear, lifting my foot, I pulledout with her, and did not stop until quite out of sight
After visiting several villages, and finding that the bay was thickly populated, I went on board The followingup steam were much afraid It was evident they wanted to show us that they had confidence in us, but it was difficult with the steareat We warned the up anchor to clear off Why should they? There was no sail, nor e going toaway to a very safe distance One canoe hanging on is pulled under, a wild shout, a hter, when they see canoe and paddlers appear astern at some distance We rounded One Tree Point and could see no entrance to a bay, just a fewon, we anchored outside of the Roux Islands, in a fine safe harbour Before leaving our friends at South Cape, they were boasting of having visited soe knives, the natives all left, they helping thes
We had soside, and it was not until we had fastened a piece of red cloth to a stick and floated it astern, that the first canoe would come near The natives approached, picked up the red cloth, and in showing theh to take hold of a piece, look well at it, and finally decide to co, and on seeing this other canoes ca the captain to keep on trading as long as possible, I hastened ashore, to see the chief of one of the villages As long as trading canoes re are perfectly safe; care should be taken to get away as soon as possible after the canoes leave the vessel
The tide was far out when our boat touched the beach A crowd met us, and in every hand was a club or spear I went on to the bow, to spring ashore, but arned not to land I told them I had come to see the chief, had a present for him, and ive it to him, but you must not land”
”I am Tamate, from Suau, and have come as a friend to visit your old chief, and I must land”
An elderly wo, ”Youto a youngthe chief's son
”No; I must see the chief for ive hi ashore, followed by theit on the diggings, and not the least afraid of natives, I walked up the long beach to the village, to the chief's house
The old man was seated on the platforn to rise to receive us I told hih, and treated the whole as stale news
I placed my present on the platform in front of him, and waited for some word of satisfaction; but none escaped the stern old chieftain Presents of beads were handed to little children in ar in the outskirts of crowd and little jostling
”Gould,” said I to the et away from here; keep eyes all round, and let us make quietly to the beach”
To the chief I said, ”Friend, I a his eyebrows, he said, ”Go”
We were followed by the crowd, onebehind me, and uncomfortably near Had I that club in my hand, I should feel a little more comfortable When on the beachthe canoes had left the vessel, and were hurrying ashore; our boat was soon afloat, still, we had soo I must have that club, or I fear that club will have hly prized by the natives, init, I wheeled quickly round, presented it to the savage, whose eyes were dazzled as with a bar of gold With ht the club, and before he beca the procession, arot safely away
From Fyfe Bay ent round to Meikle Bay, where I visited all the villages, and ell received Before landing I decided to walk inland, and see forup at the back The charts showed no such thing, but I felt sure, fro over it, that there e sheet of water, and that thereoff the water of the Lorne Range and Cloudy Mountains, as no streaot the chief of the village at the head of the bay and a large following to show us the way We travelled for soood country, and at last ca well up towards Cloudy Mountain and away towards the head of Milne Bay Seeing the Stirling Range, I was able to take a few positions
Our -piece with him, saw a very pretty parrot on a cocoanut tree He approached until close under--the natives, about forty in nuoing to happen Bang! Down dropped the parrot; a wail, hands to ears, a shout, and ere left alone with the chief, who happened to be standing close bywhen they reached their hoes, and at sundown returned In the dark we travelled along the bed of a creek, passing ses, whose inhabitants were terribly alarmed, but none htened How nimbly he ascended his platfor, but now rejoiced to see hio the escort had returned with a terrible tale, and they feared whether their husband could have lived through it all But he was now considered a veritable hero, to be sung in song and shouted in dance Friends gather round; he tells his tale; presents the bird; the wives examine it, then the crowd of relatives He afraid! oh dear no! But he looked pale for a native, and no quantity of hoop-iron would induce him to move froht Enough for one day, one month, one year, so, ”Good- bye, Ta on board late, elco day we got round to Ellengowan Bay After visiting all the villages, I went right up to the head of the bay to see Silo and its chief The tide was very low, and after pulling the boat soe of the ters, the e He had hoop-iron cut in seven-inch lengths in his pockets The old chief received us graciously, and began giving s and food, if I would only stay two days It was a sickly looking hole, and not being quite rid of fever, I hoped to get on board and away in an hour A large crowd gathered round, all under arht scuffle took place, but was soon over Theman with a piece, and took it from him The crowd increased I told the chief I should prefer his people unarmed, and not so noisy He spoke to them, some put down their clubs and spears; but they were hidden in the bush close by We bade the chief good-bye, but he expressed a great wish to see reat carelessness, we made towards the beach, attended by a noisy crowd, all ar, and knowing savages preferred killing out of their own villages, hospitality having ended when friends left the precincts, I determined not to have that crowd near the boat I asked the chief to send them back; but to him they would not listen, and still the noisy crowd followed on I shouted to the into the boat No use; on they followed, and the boat theyparticularly cheerful, I told theo off to the vessel--that I should wait and return to the village Sta passion, I told the chief, ”Go with all your people to the boat; as for me, I shall return” It had the desired effect The people fled, and the feho reot to the boat and away, glad to escape without any unpleasantness
Entering Orangerie Bay, we anchored off the village of Daunai, from which the whole district takes its na the thief, deter into one of the canoes, and so avoided trouble There were over one hundred canoes round the vessel, and altogether over four hundred htened the canoes away by blowing the steam whistle--they were much afraid of it, and kept at a very respectful distance
We went up the long sheet of water hen we crossed Meikle Bay, finding it in every way suited to its native naish water, and quite useless as a harbour for anything larger than an ordinary boat I went ashore in one of the canoes, to be landed at Bootu, and walk across to Milne Bay Before leaving the vessel I engaged with the natives to take oon, and when I had seen Milne Bay, to return me to the vessel, when they would be paid for all their trouble So with our bags and a few eatables, we started; when about a mile away froht shore, and no aet thee we visited overland--some left us, and ere certainly now too weak to proceed We ran down to the village, where we landed with , and aent ers, and they were exceedingly i well that ere quite in their hands My friend the reed with s were rather out of the common with us, and that a sharp eye, and quick ear, and quick action were of soet their clubs and spears, and begged and insisted on presents; but they were astonished, I doubt not, to find their begging of little avail
”Go to the vessel, if you want presents”
”Why are you anchored so far off?”