NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
683 
uneasy, at 7 a.m. the anchor was weighed and the ship steered in for a small cove under 
Point Caillie. At the first movement of the screw the natives in the canoes seized their 
weapons, and it was certainly thought for an instant that the officers on the bridge were 
going to be favoured with a flight of arrows. Much relief was felt when they were seen 
pointing to the propeller, which they evidently took at first to be a marine monster of 
some kind or other. Having satisfied themselves, however, that it was machinery 
connected in some way with the ship, they put their weapons down and resumed 
paddling alongside, their canoes forming a wide trailing line as they accompanied the ship. 
There were in all sixty-seven canoes present, and this was the greatest number 
seen, a few of them contained five natives, some four, some three, and some 
only two. In fifty canoes on one side of the vessel there were one hundred and 
forty-eight natives, or about an average of three to a canoe ; in all, therefore, there 
must have been two hundred natives. From time to time the shout which was heard 
the night before was raised. When heard close by, it was found to commence with a short 
quick “ wall wall,” followed by a long “oh oh oh.” Some few natives had perforated 
Conch shells, both a Triton perforated on the side of one of the upper whorls, and a large 
conical Strombus perforated at the apex of the spire. They blew these shells, making a 
booming sound which mingled with the shouts. They evidently prize these trumpet 
shells highly, and would not part with them, perhaps from the same motives that prevent 
them parting with their flutes, as described by the officers of the “ Etna.” 1 
When the ship moved the scene was very fine. In front were the Cyclops Mountains 
rising to heights of 6000 feet, at the eastern base of which was a sheltered cove with one or 
two small islets in it, all lit up by the rising sun behind, whilst around were a crowd of 
canoes filled with naked savages ornamented with frizzled hair, tusks through the septa 
of their noses, and blackened faces ; in the centre was the Challenger, steaming slowly 
along in search of a secure anchorage, and rolling lazily to the heavy swell. As the ship 
steamed towards the shore the water grew deeper instead of shallower, and finally it 
became necessary to anchor in 36 fathoms, with the right extremity of Point Caillie 
N. 82° E., Observation Islet S., and an island with a village on it S. 43° W. Here the 
vessel was well protected trom the swell. 
Many of the natives made a sign of drinking, and pointed to a part of the bay where 
water was to be procured, evidently thinking that the ship required water. This shows 
that they are more or less accustomed to ships watering here, and the fact that the 
utmost endeavours failed to induce any of the natives to come on board the ship, and 
their extreme caution in their first approach, seemed to show that they must have been 
frightened or maltreated in some way by recent visitors to the bay. When the Dutch 
vessel of war “Etna” came into the harbour in 1858, the natives clambered on board 
before the cable had run out. 
1 Neu Guinea und seine Bewohner, Otto Finsch, p. 144. 
