126 
ARABS IN NEW GUINEA. 
The crowd followed us to the boat, and shout- 
ed and waved in exuberant Papuan style as we 
sailed away ; while the Arabs, incongruous amid 
their surroundings — gay for the day in long 
white flowing robes, broidered vests, and bright- 
coloured turbans— stood on the very edge, watch- 
ing us as far as they could see us, with evident 
sadness that their short intercourse with the 
outer world had already ended. What a power- 
ful incentive is his religion to an Arab, that lie 
can so separate himself from the amenities of 
civilisation, and dwell for years among such 
savages, gathering the products that will bring 
him' the means of accomplishing that visit to 
the Sacred Tomb which will ensure his eternal 
happiness ! 
Next day we sought to call at two villages 
farther south ; but in the night a squall had 
come on, and during the whole day we had a 
strong breeze and driving rain. At the first vil- 
lage no boat attempted to come off ; at the second 
some half-dozen tried to approach, but the waves 
made such sport with their frail skiffs that it was 
impossible to conduct any transfer. The rowers 
were mostly women, much tattooed on breasts 
and arms, who shrieked wildly, and in some cases 
even dropped their oars in terror, when our ship 
