Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter iii. sketches of papuan life. Journey inland from Port Moresby--Evening with a chief--Savage life--Tree-houses--Uakinumu--Inland natives--Native habits of eating--Mountain scenery--Upland natives--Eeturn to Uakinumu--Drinking out of a bamboo--Native conversation--Keninumu--Munikahila--Native spiritists--Habits and influence of these men--Meroka--Kerianumu--Makapili--The Laroki Falls--Epakari--Return to Port Moresby. In 1879 I made a long journey inland, in a northeasterly direction from Port Moresby. I visited many native villages, and explored the mountainous country along the course of and between the Goldie and Laloki rivers. The reader will get some notion of the country, the natives, and their customs, from the following extracts taken from a journal kept at that time. July 15th, 1879.--We left Port Moresby at half-past seven, reaching the Laroki at half-past eleven. We crossed in shallow water near to where the Goldie joins the Laroki. We had eighteen carriers, four of them women, who carried more than the men. After resting awhile at the Laroki we went on about three miles further to Moumiri, the first village of the Koiari tribe of Port Moresby. On entering the village we took them by surprise; the women shouted and the men rushed to their spears. "We called out, Mai, mai, mai (Peace, peace, peace), and, on recognising who we were, they came running twards us with both hands outspread. We met the chief's wife, and she led us up the hill, where there are a number of good native houses. It was shouted on before us that foreigners and Euatoka had arrived, and down the hill the youths came rushing, shaking hands, shouting, and slapping themselves. We were received by the chief under the house, and there we had to sit for a...
