43 
NEW GUINEA, 
"Notlimg excited our wonder more than that they 
should have shown so little curiosity or suiprise at the 
things they saw on board, which were perfectly new to 
thenij not the least of which muBt have been the white 
faces of the Europeans. One would suppose from this 
that they had seen European ships before ; but during 
our stay here we could not discover the slightest grounds 
for such a supposition/^*' 
The Expedition remained ten days off the mouth of 
the Outanata Kiverj takmg on board fresh water and 
firewood (in which they were cordially assisted by the 
inhabitants), and in exaniiuing the banks of the river 
with a \-iew to the formation of a settlement. The river 
proved to be a noble stream, with depth of water in its 
bed snf^cient to float the largest ship ; but unfortunately 
a bar of sand extended across the mouth, which even 
small vessels would find difficulty in passing at all sea- 
sons. Had the case been other mse, the settlement which 
it was the object of the Expedition to form, would pro- 
bably have become permanent, for the desire of the native 
chief to see such an establishment made in his territory 
could not be doubted, and he evidently had suflBcieut 
control over his people to restrain those fitful outbreaks 
of individuals that have hitherto proved fatal to every 
European settlement formed among the Papuans. The 
river afforded easy access to the interior, and the natural 
productions of its banks would alone have been sufficient 
to support a foreign commerce. But we must return to 
Mr. Modera^s description of this interesting tribe, which 
♦ "Keize,"&c.,p. 67. 
