CHAPTER V 



LEARNING TO NAVIGATE ; AND SOME COLLECTING 

 IN THE LOUISIADE GROUP 



UPON my return to Australia, with very definite 

 collecting plans in view, I found that the carrying out 

 of those plans was destined to be a good deal inter- 

 rupted whilst I learned to navigate. Navigation I 

 did not attempt to learn, as I might have done easily, 

 from some one with knowledge of the art and of the 

 South Seas : but blundered into the school of experi- 

 ence. I suppose that throughout I have always taken 

 up the attitude of under-estimating difficulties and 

 dangers. Really it is that I do not see them until 

 they come so close to hand that they must be seen. 

 Possibly this has helped rather than hindered in 

 dealing with the natives. Trouble with them usually 

 arises from " nerves " on the part of the white man. 

 He expects that the natives will prove savage, blood- 

 thirsty, treacherous, and unconsciously acts in just 

 such a way as to bring out those traits in them. If 

 he had confidence in the natives, or simply did not 

 think about their character, one way or the other, 

 probably there would be much less trouble. But in 

 going out to encounter the sea it is well to be armed 



with knowledge. 



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