New Guinea in search of Paradise-hirds. 201 



majority of its members being French. Our vessel dropped 

 anchor opposite this spot, where the surrounding views 

 were very picturesque. We soon landed our packages, and 

 Mr. N. H. M. Bowden, the Resident Magistrate, most 

 hospitably entertained us and gave us all the assistance in 

 his power. After a few days' delay, during which we 

 unpacked our stores and arranged them into convenient 

 loads for porterage, we " signed on " six more " boys " as 

 gun-bearers and in other capacities. Our kind host had sent 

 word across to the mainland that we required canoes to 

 transport us to Bioto. This place lies about nine miles from 

 the mouth of the Ethel River, which flows into Hall Sound 

 opposite the south point of Yule Island, Judicial business 

 demanded the Magistrate's presence in Bioto, and we 

 accompanied him thither, returning late the same day. The 

 heat on the fine river I found very trying, but its beauty was 

 marvellous, though the amount of bird-life hardly equalled 

 our expectations. One or two large Eagles sailed over 

 the many swamps which concealed the river's banks, whilst 

 the passage of the whale-boat disturbed Jacanas^ Shell- 

 ducks, Cormorants, Blue Coots, White Egrets, and a variety 

 of Waders. 



We had frequent shots at crocodiles, which slid into the 

 water unharmed, until we were about to turn up a tributary, 

 at which spot I severely wounded a specimen about Ave feet 

 in length, and as it dived Bowden finished it. On arriving at 

 Bioto we passed the time in collecting butterflies and a few 

 birds,which included a small Parrot, some Wood-Swallows, and 

 Jacanas, as well as a fine Blue Coot, which one of the mission- 

 aries shot for me in a swamp. An amusing scene occurred 

 ere our return. The police, who formed our crew, had been 

 busy capturing prisoners wanted for various petty offences 

 and obtaining a few witnesses, who accompanied us back to 

 Yule Island. Their friends and relatives surrounded us and 

 uttered most harrowing lamentations, to which all the children 

 and innumerable pariah dogs added their voices. The scene 

 Avould have been piteous had we been a murderous press- 

 gang, but the police treated it as an amusing spectacle, seeing 



