BY J. W. POTTS, ESQ. 5 
utensils, some of which are of considerable size, are largely 
manufactured here, and serve as articles of trade with 
neighbouring Papuans, and especially with the coastal tribes 
of the Papuan Gulf, such as the Maiva, from whom sago is 
received in exchange. I was informed that only a week or 
two prior to my visit some five hundred men left in canoes 
laden with pottery of this description, and were expected to 
return with sago and other goods as soon as ever the west 
monsoons had set in. 
The chief implements for war purposes in use amongst 
the Motu people—for so the natives of Port Moresby are 
designated—are a stone club, a stick terminated by a per- 
forated disc of stone whose border is sometimes perfect, at 
other times carved into and so, in lieu of being discoid, be- 
coming star-like ; a palm-wood spear anda shield. In refer- 
ence, however, to stone weapons, it is very evident that 
these are fast giving place to those made of iron, and the 
stone-age in Port Moresby district will very shortly be a 
thing of the past. 
It appeared that the Motu people had already grown 
alarmed at what they regarded as the encroachment of the 
whites, and looked with a jealous eye at all resumption of 
their land, as well as at the erection of buildings upon it. 
It was accordingly decided by the authorities that it was 
advisable to purchase from the Koitapu (a neighbouring 
tribe but one residing away from the coast) a piece of land 
with which to effect an exchange with the Motu natives for 
land close to the town. And it was for this purpose that 
the Deputy Commissioner invited me to accompany him to 
the Koitapu village, whither his interpreter, Ruotoka, had 
set out on foot some hours earlier. After riding over the high 
limestone coast range the prospect assumed an agreeable 
change. The country was now undulating and reminded 
one of the Allora district of the Darling Downs of Queens- 
land. The soil had changed to a somewhat rich loam and 
was studded here and there with copses of indigenous fruit 
trees, sago palms, and mangoes in full bearing, interspersed 
with small rock-bound lagoons encircled by luxuriant ferns. 
Away to the west was forest country, and here grew differ- 
ent species of Eucalyptus, one of which closely resembled 
the Moreton Bay Ash (£. fesselaris). The village itself 
