158 A NATURALIST IN CANNIBAL LAND 



there is a far larger population to draw on than inland. 

 As long as the coastal native can obtain a yam and 

 an inch of tobacco he will not on any occasion leave 

 his beloved platform underneath his house, where 

 he sleeps day in and day out. But inland the con- 

 ditions are different, for the bush people are learning 

 the want of a great number of things that they did 

 without before, and they consequently come down 

 off their hills to work and get money to buy the things 

 they want. The coastal people have more chances 

 of getting tobacco, knives, etc., than the bushmen, 

 for they have coco-nuts that can be turned into cop>ra 

 without very much labour, and so they remain at 

 home. 



My own opinion is that the Papuan of this genera- 

 tion or the next will not work steadily, though he 

 may take up, in a spasmodic fashion, some sort of 

 work when he is anxious for " trade." But when 

 you have " signed him on " the native boy as a worker 

 is just what you like to make him. His character 

 depends entirely on the character of his master. 

 There is one certain rule, and that is that talking at 

 the boys is bad. The natives do not mind a blow if 

 there is a reason for the punishment, but they do not 

 like you talking at them. Some men can never get 

 on with the natives because they are always nagging. 



After some experience with the natives a man 

 becomes tolerant and good-humoured with regard 

 to their little failings. If you think they are doing 



