VICISSITUDES 
shoot fish with a rifle, and was allowed to go and try; 
but not only were they too quick for him, but, of 
course, the water deflected the ball, and the refraction 
of light through water makes a true aim impossible. 
Gaberio, who had no knowledge of natural science, 
covered his defeat by another excuse—‘‘ Water too 
deep,” said Gaberio. 
We found here some indication of rudimentary 
game laws existing among the Papuans. Round this 
region dwelt certain chiefs, in whose territory grew 
the play-trees of the raggiana or red bird of paradise. 
These gentlemen intimated to us that any one who 
came to shoot the raggiana must pay them a fee, as 
the birds, by virtue of their coming to play in their 
trees, were their property. 
As the natives had little to do in camp, they used 
to sit round Harry, watching him with the greatest 
interest while he posted his diary, and exclaiming at 
intervals, ‘‘mallelee lo-pi-ang” (good writing). It is 
most singular that they should have had a word for 
writing, for I found no trace among them even of 
picture writing, if we except the markings on the 
‘“bau-bau” or pipe; but it is probable that they had 
some means of communication by scratching on bark, 
otherwise the existence of the term seems to be in- 
explicable. 
At length I saw that a further stay at the St. Joseph 
was impracticable. A flood came down and washed 
away our bridge, and it was with no great reluctance 
that we struck our camp and returned to Dinawa. 
On the way we repassed the village of Fa-lo-foida, 
which stands on the top of a conical hill surrounded 
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