166 A NATURALIST IN CANNIBAL LAND 



on my boys travelling up; and by coast natives on 

 my boys travelling down. In both cases the goods 

 that the boys were carrying were stolen. Of the 

 three boys I sent down to the coast one was killed 

 outright, another was wounded, and left for dead, 

 but the third escaped. The wounded boy had some 

 cunning. He was hit twice as he was crossing a creek, 

 and fell down in the water, and was taken down- 

 stream by the current, shamming to be dead, and 

 thus saving his life. One of my boys was killed by 

 natives from the Kokoda district only about half a 

 mile from a Government station. Indeed, my first 

 news of the outrage came in a letter from the resident 

 magistrate : 



" I regret to have to inform you that three of your 

 boys KANOWINI, TAUEOKO, and NABUDIGA, were 

 attacked yesterday morning by two (presumably) 

 Ausembo men. NABUDIGA was murdered, but of the 

 other two, one escaped unhurt and the other was 

 wounded. He is having his wounds dressed here, 

 but they do not appear serious. Every effort will be 

 made to arrest the murderers. Their swags are said 

 to have been also stolen. 



" I must request that you favour me with these 

 boys' agreements, so that I may advise the death of 

 the one, and must ask you to be good enough to send 

 me the wages due to the deceased. The other two 

 boys you will have to keep at hand, as they will be 

 required as witnesses later," 



