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IV.—WNotice respecting the Natives of New Guinea. By Wu. Marspen, Esq., 
F.R.S., M.R.A.S. &. 
Read July 3, 1830. 
Tuart the extensive island of New Guinea (by the Malays denominated 
Tanah Papiiah or land of people with frizzled hair) should be less known to 
Europeans than almost any other part of the Eastern Archipelago, may be 
chiefly attributed to the savage manners of its inhabitants, whom the more 
civilized race of people in the neighbouring islands have always represented 
as cannibals ; but of the justness of which imputation no direct proofs have 
hitherto been furnished by our navigators. How far the following detail 
of circumstances may warrant a belief that a practice well ascertained to 
exist in Sumatra and New Zealand, prevails also in a district of this country, 
the reader will form a judgment for himself, upon estimating the degree of 
credit to which it is entitled. The evidence of what is so abhorrent 
from our nature ought, doubtless, to be free from the suspicion either of 
credulity, or of a disposition to the marvellous; but on the other hand it may 
be questioned whether those who, from attachment to preconceived opinions, 
endeavour by captious arguments, or by ridicule, to discredit what is sup- 
ported by unexceptionable testimony, are not equally enemies to the cause 
of truth, with those who by plausible relations give colour to what is false. 
The Northumberland East-India ship, commanded by Captain Rees, 
sailed from Bencoolen early in March 1783, on her way to China, and, on 
account of the season, proceeded by what is termed the Eastern passage. 
On the 30th of that month she anchored in a bay situated in latitude 
2° 26’ S., on the north-west part of the coast of New Guinea; which 
seems to be the Freshwater Bay of Dampier. What follows is extracted 
from the Log-book of that ship :— 
“ April Ist. Sent the boats on shore with the second and fourth officers, 
to reconnoitre, as we are in want of wood and water ; but on their getting 
near the shore, found the natives in great numbers on the beach, and the 
