CHAPTER XL 



NEW GUINEA. 



Division of New Guinea — The Itajah anijjat — Land on Sahvatti — An anxious 

 night — Our first Bird of Paradise — Batanta Island — The natives — Discover 

 Marchesa Bay — Obtain Wilson's Bii-d of Paradise — The Batanta Papuans — 

 Momos, Waigiou Island — Ascend the AVaigiou Gulf — Pigeons and parrots — 

 Alfuros of Waigiou — The Red Bird of Paradise- -Night in the forest — Scenery 

 of the Gulf— Rambles round JIomos^A regal trader — Napriboi— Zoological 

 characteristics of Batanta and Waigiou — Sail for Geelvink Bay. 



OuK visit to New Guinea was to be confined to that portion 

 claimed by the Dutch — the western half — which, from the varia- 

 tion in species from island to island and the peculiarity in the 

 distribution of the Birds of Paradise, is perhaps the most interest- 

 ing to a naturalist. It is here too that the Papuan exists as a pure 

 type, unmixed with Mahori blood, as is the case in some places in 

 the Eastern peninsula. Another, and not the least important of 

 our reasons for selecting Dutch New Guinea, was that it was the 

 nearest and most accessible part of the island. The Marchesa had 

 already been two years in commission, and we were anxious to lose 

 no time. 



The Dutch boundary line, which coincides with the 141st 

 degree of E. longitude, includes what is without doubt the finest 

 portion of the island. Although but little explored, it is known to 

 abound in excellent harbours ; the coast-line is deeply indented by 

 the Macluer Gulf and Geehdnk Bay ; it boasts of several rivers, 

 one of which — the Amberno — is of great size ; and the interior is 

 traversed by mountain ranges which in the distant future are no 



