CHAP. XXXIV.] BUILDING MY HOUSE. 307 



among the half-breeds between the Indian and Negro in 

 South America. Can this be an indication that the 

 Papuans are a mixed race? 



For the first three days after our arrival I was fully 

 occupied from morning to night building a house, with the 

 assistance of a dozen Papuans and my own men. It was 

 immense trouble to get our labourers to work, as scarcely 

 one of them could speak a word of Malay ; and it was only 

 by the most energetic gesticulations, and going through a 

 regular pantomime of what was wanted, that we could get 

 them to do anything. If we made them understand that a 

 few more poles were required, which two could have easily 

 cut, six or eight would insist upon going together, although 

 we needed their assistance in other things. One morning 

 ten of them came to work, bringing only one chopper be- 

 tween them, although they knew I had none ready for use. 

 I chose a place about two hundred yards from the beach, 

 on an elevated ground, by the side of the chief path from 

 the village of Dorey to the provision-grounds and the forest. 

 Within twenty yards was a little stream, which furnished 

 us with excellent water and a nice place to bathe. There 

 was only low underwood to clear away, while some fine 

 forest trees stood at a short distance, and we cut down the 

 wood for about twenty yards round to give us light and 

 air. The house, about twenty feet by fifteen, was built 

 entirely of wood, with a bamboo floor, a single door of 



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