8 NOTES ON A TRIP TO NEW GUINEA; 
mountain country of which they formed a part. The Laloki 
river, with its tributaries, amongst which is the Goldie, 
drains a very large tract of country, and ultimately empties 
itself into Redscar Bay. It serves as a landmark between 
the territories of the Koitapu tribe and those of the Koiari. 
These latter people own then the country on the north-east 
side of the Laloki River; they are essentially a mountain 
tribe, and, as distinguished from those of the coast districts, 
are short and thick-set. On the occasion of my visit they were 
not friendly, but, no doubt, could easily be made so by pay- 
ment for the privilege of going through their country. I 
afterwards learnt that Mr. Goldie, of Port Moresby, leased, 
some five years ago, from the various tribes interested, and 
for a period of twenty-one years, a large tract of country 
through the centre of which the Laloki River flows, and 
having seen the lease, I found that it was evidently 
properly drawn, signed, and executed. I also noticed that it 
contained an important proviso in favour of the lessors by 
which the right to‘hunt over this country was reserved to 
them. 
I returned to Port Moresby and left again on the 
morning following my arrival, in the ‘“ Elsea,”’ having under- 
taken to forward dispatches on behalf of the Deputy Com- 
missioner to the late Sir Peter Scratchley, who was then at 
the East end of the island. We had to beat dead to wind- 
ward until we made Hula, which we entered on the morning 
after our departure. At Hula we remained all day, and 
having cleaned the schooner, left next day for Kerepuna, 
anchoring at the head of Hud’s Lagoon. From this spot I 
visited Kalo and the Kalo River in a native canoe, the 
details of which journey I will pass over. On my return 
we sailed once more for the east end of New Guinea, and, 
after beating dead to windward during three days, met the 
s.s. “ Governor Blackall” at sea, out of sight of land, when 
the despatches were delivered. Sir Peter Scratchley in- 
formed me that he had just visited Aroma, where he had 
hoisted the British flag. Parting company with the 
“ Governor Blackall,” we once more returned to Kerepuna. 
The country intervening between Kerepuna and Hula is 
flat and well watered. The soil is rich and black, and sup- 
ports large forests of cocoanuts, wattle, and palms. Orchids 
