Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For the first three days after our arrival I was fully occupied from morning to night build-
ing a house, with the assistance of a dozen Papuans and my own men. It was immense
trouble to get our labourers to work, as scarcely one of them could speak a word of Malay;
and it was only by the most energetic gesticulations, and going through a regular pantomime
of what was wanted, that we could get them to do anything. If we made them understand
that a few more poles were required, which two could have easily cut, six or eight would in-
sist upon going together, although we needed their assistance in other things. One morning
ten of them came to work, bringing only one chopper between them, although they knew I
had none ready for use. I chose a place about two hundred yards from the beach, on an elev-
ated ground, by the side of the chief path from the village of Dorey to the provision-grounds
and the forest. Within twenty yards was a little stream, which furnished us with excellent
water and a nice place to bathe. There was only low underwood to clear away, while some
fine forest trees stood at a short distance, and we cut down the wood for about twenty yards
round to give us light and air. The house, about twenty feet by fifteen, was built entirely of
wood, with a bamboo floor, a single door of thatch, and a large window, looking over the
sea, at which I fixed my table, and close beside it my bed, within a little partition. I bought a
number of very large palm-leaf mats of the natives, which made excellent walls; while the
mats I had brought myself were used on the roof, and were covered over with attaps as soon
as we could get them made. Outside, and rather behind, was a little hut, used for cooking,
and a bench, roofed over, where my men could sit to skin birds and animals. When all was
finished, I had my goods and stores brought up, arranged them conveniently inside, and then
paid my Papuans with knives and choppers, and sent them away. The next day our schooner
left for the more eastern islands, and I found myself fairly established as the only European
inhabitant of the vast island of New Guinea.
As we had some doubt about the natives, we slept at first with loaded guns beside us and
a watch set; but after a few days, finding the people friendly, and feeling sure that they
would not venture to attack five well-armed men, we took no further precautions. We had
still a day or two's work in finishing up the house, stopping leaks, putting up our hanging
shelves for drying specimens inside and out, and making the path down to the water, and a
clear dry space in front of the house.
On the 17th, the steamer not having arrived, the coal-ship left, having lain here a month,
according to her contract; and on the same day my hunters went out to shoot for the first
time, and brought home a magnificent crown pigeon and a few common birds. The next day
they were more successful, and I was delighted to see them return with a Bird of Paradise in
full plumage, a pair of the fine Papuan lories (Lorius domicella), four other lories and parro-
