按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
od when it was abundant; and then starveyet I cannot imagine that the natives see it in this light。 They must look upon the trading missionaries with some suspicion; and cannot feel so sure of their teachings being disinterested; as would be the case if they acted like the Jesuits in Singapore。 The first thing to be done by the missionary in attempting to improve savages; is to convince them by his actions that lie comes among them for their benefit only; and not for any private ends of his own。 To do this he must act in a different way from other men; not trading and taking advantage of the necessities of those who want to sell; but rather giving to those who are in distress。 It would he well if he conformed himself in some degree to native customs; and then endeavoured to show how these customs might be gradually modified; so as to be more healthful and more agreeable。 A few energetic and devoted men acting in this way might probably effect a decided moral improvement on the lowest savage tribes; whereas trading missionaries; teaching what Jesus said; but not doing as He did; can scarcely be expected to do more than give them a very little of the superficial varnish of religion。
Dorey harbour is in a fine bay; at one extremity of which an elevated point juts out; and; with two or three small islands; forms a sheltered anchorage。 The only vessel it contained when we arrived was a Dutch brig; laden with coals for the use of a war… steamer; which was expected daily; on an exploring expedition along the coasts of New Guinea; for the purpose of fixing on a locality for a colony。 In the evening we paid it a visit; and landed at the village of Dorey; to look out for a place where I could build my house。 Mr。 Otto also made arrangements for me with some of the native chiefs; to send men to cut wood; rattans; and bamboo the next day。
The villages of Mansinam and Dorey presented some features quite new to me。 The houses all stand completely in the water; and are reached by long rude bridges。 They are very low; with the roof shaped like a large boat; bottom upwards。 The posts which support the houses; bridges; and platforms are small crooked sticks; placed without any regularity; and looking as if they were tumbling down。 The floors are also formed of sticks; equally irregular; and so loose and far apart that I found it almost impossible to walls on them。 The walls consist of bits of boards; old boats; rotten mats; attaps; and palm…leaves; stuck in anyhow here and there; and having altogether the most wretched and dilapidated appearance it is possible to conceive。 Under the eaves of many of the houses hang human skulls; the trophies of their battles with the savage Arfaks of the interior; who often come to attack them。 A large boat…shaped council…house is supported on larger posts; each of which is grossly carved to represent a naked male or female human figure; and other carvings still more revolting are placed upon the platform before the entrance。 The view of an ancient lake…dweller's village; given as the frontispiece of Sir Charles Lyell's 〃Antiquity of Man;〃 is chiefly founded on a sketch of this very village of Dorey; but the extreme regularity of the structures there depicted has no place in the original; any more than it probably had in the actual lake…villages。
The people who inhabit these miserable huts are very similar to the Ke and Aru islanders; and many of them are very handsome; being tall and well…made; with well…cut features and large aquiline noses。 Their colour is a deep brown; often approaching closely to black; and the fine mop…like heads of frizzly hair appear to be more common than elsewhere; and are considered a great ornament; a long six…pronged bamboo fork being kept stuck in them to serve the purpose of a comb; and this is assiduously used at idle moments to keep the densely growing mass from becoming matted and tangled。 The majority have short woolly hair; which does not seem capable of an equally luxuriant development。 A growth of hair somewhat similar to this; and almost as abundant; is found among the half…breeds between the Indian and Negro in South America。 Can this be an indication that the Papuans are a mixed race?
For the first three days after our arrival I was fully occupied from morning to night building 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 insist 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 elevated 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 horse。
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 parroquets; a grackle (Gracula dumonti); a king…hunter (Dacelo gaudichaudi); a racquet…tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea); and two or three other birds of less beauty。
I went myself to visit the native village on the hill behind Dorey; and took with me a small present of cloth; knives; and beads; to secure the good…will of the chief; and get him to send some men to catch or shoot birds for me。 The houses were scattered about among rudely cultivated clearings。 Two which I visited consisted of a central passage; on each side of which opened short passages; admitting to two rooms; each of which was a house accommodating a separate family。 They were elevated at least fifteen feet above the ground; on a complete forest of poles; and were so rude and dilapidated that some of the small passages had openings in the floor of loose sticks; through which a child might fall。 The inhabitants seemed rather uglier than those at Dorey village。 They are; no doubt; the true indi