874 



GOn.UL 



[chap, xxt- 



the miirdereil men were the Kajah's son, and thy relations 

 or slaves of many of the inliabitaiits. Th« cry of lamen- 

 tatioQ that aro.se when the lunv^ arrived w-aa most distress- 

 ing, A score of wiinieti, wlio had lost linsbands, brothers, 

 song^ or more distant relatives, set up at once the most 

 dismal shrieks and groans and wailLrigs, which continued 

 at ititervals till late at night; and as the chief houses in 

 the village were crowded together round that which I 

 occupied, our situation was anything hut agreeable. 



It seems that the village where the attack took phi,e 

 (nearly opposite the small island of Lakahia) is known to 

 be dangerous, and the vessels had only gtuie there a few 

 (lays before to buy some tripang. The crew were living on 

 shore, the praus being in a small river close by, and they 

 were attacked and murdered in the day-time wliile bar- 

 gaining with the Papuans, The six men who survived 

 wore on board the praus, and escaped by at once getting 

 into the small boat and rowing out to sea. 



This south-west part of New Guinea, known to the 

 native traders as "Papua Kowiyce" and "Papua Onen," 

 is inhabited by the most treaciierous and bloodthirsty 

 tribes. It is in these districts that tlie commanders and 

 portions of the crews of many of the early discoveiy 

 ships were murdered, and scarcely a year now passes 

 but some lives are lost. The Goram and Ceram traders 

 ai'c themselves generally inoffensive; they are well ac- 

 quainted vvith the character of these natives, and are 

 not likely to provoke an attack by any insults or open 

 attempt at robbery or imposition. They are accustomed 

 to visit the same places every year, and the natives can 

 have no fear of them, as may be alleged in excuse IVtr 

 tlieir attacks on Europeans. In other extensive districts 

 inhabited by the same Papuan races, such as ^lysol, 

 Salwatty, Waigiuu, and some parts of the adjacent coast, 

 the ]>e(jple ha\'e taken the first step in civilization, owing 

 probably to tlie settlement of tradei's of mixed breed 

 among them, and for many years no such attacks have 

 taken place. On the south-west coast, and in the large 

 islam! of Jobie, however, the natives are in a very bar- 

 barous condition, and take every opportunity of robbery 

 &nd murder, — a habit which is confirmed by the impunit} 



