Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
My house at Bessir, in Waigiou
My first business was to send for the men who were accustomed to catch the Birds of
Paradise. Several came, and I showed them my hatchets, beads, knives, and handkerchiefs;
and explained to them, as well as I could by signs, the price I would give for fresh-killed
specimens. It is the universal custom to pay for everything in advance; but only one man
ventured on this occasion to take goods to the value of two birds. The rest were suspicious,
and wanted to see the result of the first bargain with the strange white man, the only one
