MonzsBY.— Lecture on New Guinea. Ixxxi 
Abstract of Lecture on New Guinea. By Captain Мовеѕвү, R.N., of 
H.M.S. “ Basilisk.” 
[Read before the New Zealand Institute, 20th September, 1873.] 
Tue lecturer first pointed out that though New Guinea had been discovered 
prior to any other island in the Australasian seas—no less than 347 years ago 
' —yet it still remained almost the only terra incognita of the inhabited world, 
and said he should show geographical features and national characteristics 
wholly at variance with all preconceived opinions of the shores and people of 
that great island. He then gave an historical sketch of the different visits 
made to New Guinea from the year 1526 to the present time, including an 
outline of the encroachments of the Dutch on the western shores, and 
illustrated, by an account of the cruel massacre of the crew of the German 
schooner Franz in last March by the natives under the Dutch rule, how little 
that nation had done to civilize the western races of New Guinea. Before 
describing the cruise of the “ Basilisk,” the lecturer called attention to the 
fact that two distinct races inhabit the southern shores of New Guinea—the 
black Papuans and the light-coloured Malay race. The former occupy the 
low, swampy, malarious coast from the head of the Gulf of Papua for nearly 
1,000 miles to the west. They are perfect savages, the males going entirely 
naked, and are only elevated above the degraded Australian natives in having 
fixed homes and in slightly cultivating the land. The latter occupy the 
southern shores from the head of the same gulf to the extreme east, and are 
much higher in the scale of civilization, being all decently clothed, good 
agriculturists, and well acquainted with the art of rude pottery. 
The “ Basilisk” left Sydney in December, 1872, for the purpose of 
suppressing the illegal practices against the Polynesians on the pearl shell and 
béche-de-mer fisheries in Torres Strait. Having made prizes of several vessels 
which had taken natives from the Polynesian Islands without a license, she 
proceeded to the S.E. coast of New Guinea, the first point touched at being 
Yule Island. Between Yule Island and Hood Point—120 miles—the whole 
of the coast line was laid down by Captain Stanley, of H.M.S. “ Rattlesnake,” 
in 1849 ; but the only point landed on was Redscar Bay, where, after a very 
brief intercourse with the natives, hostilities were anticipated, and the party 
at once returned to the ship. 
When about twenty-five miles E.N.E. of Yule Island, the “Basilisk” 
found herself, at daylight, off a vast extent of drift-wood and uprooted trees of 
great size. They were first reported as reefs, causing considerable anxiety 
until daylight revealed their real nature. This led them to suppose that 
inside Yule Island they would find a large river which might prove a road to 
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