NEW GUINEA AND ITS INHABITANTS. 61 



On the other hand, Lieutenant Bruijn Kops, who visited the north- 

 west coast of New Guinea in 1850, gives the following account of the 

 inhabitants of Dorey : 



Their manners and customs are much less barbarous than might be expected. 

 On the contrary, they give evidence of a mild disposition, of an inclination to 

 right and justice, and strong moral principles. Theft is considered by them as a 

 grave offense, and is of very rare occurrence. They have no fastenings to their 

 houses, yet seldom or never is anything stolen. Although they were on board 

 our ship or alongside during whole days, we never missed anything. Yet they 

 are distrustful of strangers until they become acquainted with them, as we ex- 

 perienced. This is probably less, however, a trait of their character than the 

 result of intercourse with strangers who perhaps had frequently tried to cheat 

 them. The men, it is true, came on board from the time of our arrival, but they 

 were very cautious in letting any of the things they brought for sale out of their 

 hands. The women were at first very fearful, and fled on all sides when they 

 saw us, leaving behind what they might be carrying ; but at length when they 

 found they had no injury to dread from us they became more familiar. Finally, 

 they approached without being invited, but remained timid. The children very 

 soon became accustomed to us, and followed us everywhere. 



Eespect for the aged, love for their children, and fidelity to their wives, are 

 traits which reflect honor on their disposition. Chastity is held in high regard, 

 and is a virtue that is seldom transgressed by them. A man can only have one 

 wife, and is bound to her for life. Concubinage is not permitted. Adultery is 

 unknown among them. They are generally very fond of strong drink, but, 

 although they go to excess in this, I could not learn that they prepared any fer- 

 mented liquor, not even sago-weer or tuah (palm-wine). Kidnapping is general 

 in these countries, and is followed as a branch of trade, so that there is no dis- 

 honor attached to it. The captives are treated well, are exchanged if there are 

 any of theirs in the enemy's hands, or released on payment of a ransom, as was 

 the case in Europe in the middle ages. 



My own experience of the Papuans at Dorey, in 1858, agrees with 

 this account ; and as I lived there for four months with only four Malay 

 servants, going daily unarmed into the forest to collect insects, I was 

 completely in their power had they wished to attack me. A remark- 

 able proof of their honesty occurred to me at the island of Waigiou, 

 where a man who had received payment in advance for red birds of 

 paradise brought back the money, represented by an axe, when after 

 trying for several weeks he had failed to catch any. Another, who had 

 received payment for six birds, brought me in the fifth two days before 

 I was to leave the island, and immediately started off for the forest to 

 seek another. Of course I never expected to see him again, but, when 

 my boat was loaded, and we were just on the point of starting, he came 

 running down to the beach holding up a bird, which he handed to me, 

 saying with evident satisfaction, "Now I owe you nothing." My 

 assistant, Mr. Allen, venturing along among the mountaineers of the 

 northwest peninsula, found them peaceable and good-natured. Drs. 

 Meyer and Beccari and Signor d'Albertis, penetrating inland beyond 

 Dorey, were never attacked or seriously opposed ; and Dr. Miklucho 



