按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
aits； where we were again becalmed； and were three more days creeping through them。 Several native canoes now came off to us from Waigiou on one side； and Batanta on the other； bringing a few common shells； palm…leaf mats； cocoa…nuts； and pumpkins。 They were very extravagant in their demands； being accustomed to sell their trifles to whalers and China ships； whose crews will purchase anything at ten times its value。 My only purchases were a float belonging to a turtle…spear； carved to resemble a bird； and a very well made palm…leaf box； for which articles I gave a copper ring and a yard of calico。 The canoes were very narrow and furnished with an outrigger； and in some of them there was only one man； who seemed to think nothing of coming out alone eight or ten miles from shore。 The people were Papuans； much resembling the natives of Aru。
When we had got out of the Straits； and were fairly in the great Pacific Ocean； we had a steady wind for the first time since leaving Ternate； but unfortunately it was dead ahead； and we had to beat against it； tacking on and off the coast of New Guinea。 I looked with intense interest on those rugged mountains； retreating ridge behind ridge into the interior； where the foot of civilized man had never trod。 There was the country of the cassowary and the tree…kangaroo； and those dark forests produced the most extraordinary and the most beautiful of the feathered inhabitants of the earththe varied species of Birds of Paradise。 A few days more and I hoped to be in pursuit of these； and of the scarcely less beautiful insects which accompany them。 We had still； however； for several days only calms and light head…winds； and it was not till the l0th of April that a fine westerly breeze set in； followed by a squally night； which kept us off the entrance of Dorey harbour。 The next morning we entered； and came to anchor off the small island of Mansinam； on which dwelt two German missionaries； Messrs。 Otto and Geisler。 The former immediately came on board to give us welcome； and invited us to go on shore and breakfast with him。 We were then introduced to his companion who was suffering dreadfully from an abscess on the heel； which had confined him to the house for six monthsand to his wife； a young German woman； who had been out only three months。 Unfortunately she could speak no Malay or English； and had to guess at our compliments on her excellent breakfast by the justice we did to it。
These missionaries were working men； and had been sent out； as being more useful among savages than persons of a higher class。 They had been here about two years； and Mr。 Otto had already learnt to speak the Papuan language with fluency； and had begun translating some portions of the Bible。 The language； however； is so poor that a considerable number of Malay words have to be used； and it is very questionable whether it is possible to convey any idea of such a book； to a people in so low a state of civilization。 The only nominal converts yet made are a few of the women； and some few of the children attend school； and are being taught to read； but they make little progress。 There is one feature of this mission which I believe will materially interfere with its moral effect。 The missionaries are allowed to trade to eke out the very small salaries granted them from Europe； and of course are obliged to carry out the trade principle of buying cheap and selling dear； in order to make a profit。 Like all savages the natives are quite careless of the future； and when their small rice crops are gathered they bring a large portion of it to the missionaries； and sell it for knives； beads； axes； tobacco； or any other articles they may require。 A few months later； in the wet season； when food is scarce； they come to buy it back again； and give in exchange tortoiseshell； tripang； wild nutmegs； or other produce。 Of course the rice is sold at a much higher rate than it was bought； as is perfectly fair and just and the operation is on the whole thoroughly beneficial to the natives； who would otherwise consume and waste their food when it was abundant； and then starveyet I cannot imagine that the natives see it in this light。 They must look upon the trading missionaries with some suspicion； and cannot feel so sure of their teachings being disinterested； as would be the case if they acted like the Jesuits in Singapore。 The first thing to be done by the missionary in attempting to improve savages； is to convince them by his actions that lie comes among them for their benefit only； and not for any private ends of his own。 To do this he must act in a different way from other men； not trading and taking advantage of the necessities of those who want to sell； but rather giving to those who are in distress。 It would he well if he conformed himself in some degree to native customs； and then endeavoured to show how these customs might be gradually modified； so as to be more healthful and more agreeable。 A few energetic and devoted men acting in this way might probably effect a decided moral improvement on the lowest savage tribes； whereas trading missionaries； teaching what Jesus said； but not doing as He did； can scarcely be expected to do more than give them a very little of the superficial varnish of religion。
Dorey harbour is in a fine bay； at one extremity of which an elevated point juts out； and； with two or three small islands； forms a sheltered anchorage。 The only vessel it contained when we arrived was a Dutch brig； laden with coals for the use of a war… steamer； which was expected daily； on an exploring expedition along the coasts of New Guinea； for the purpose of fixing on a locality for a colony。 In the evening we paid it a visit； and landed at the village of Dorey； to look out for a place where I could build my house。 Mr。 Otto also made arrangements for me with some of the native chiefs； to send men to cut wood； rattans； and bamboo the next day。
The villages of Mansinam and Dorey presented some features quite new to me。 The houses all stand completely in the water； and are reached by long rude bridges。 They are very low； with the roof shaped like a large boat； bottom upwards。 The posts which support the houses； bridges； and platforms are small crooked sticks； placed without any regularity； and looking as if they were tumbling down。 The floors are also formed of sticks； equally irregular； and so loose and far apart that I found it almost impossible to walls on them。 The walls consist of bits of boards； old boats； rotten mats； attaps； and palm…leaves； stuck in anyhow here and there； and having altogether the most wretched and dilapidated appearance it is possible to conceive。 Under the eaves of many of the houses hang human skulls； the trophies of their battles with the savage Arfaks of the interior； who often come to attack them。 A large boat…shaped council…house is supported on larger posts； each of which is grossly carved to represent a naked male or female human figure； and other carvings still more revolting are placed upon the platform before the entrance。 The view of an ancient lake…dweller's village； given as the frontispiece of Sir Charles Lyell's 〃Antiquity of Man；〃 is chiefly founded on a sketch of this very village of Dorey； but the extreme regularity of the structures there depicted has no place in the original； any more than it probably had in the actual lake…villages。
The people who inhabit these miserable huts are very similar to the Ke and Aru islanders； and many of them are very handsome； being tall and well…made； with well…cut features and large aquiline noses。 Their colour is a deep brown； often approaching closely to black； and the fine mop…like heads of frizzly hair appear to be more common than elsewhere； and are considered a great ornament； a long six…pronged bamboo fork being kept stuck in them to serve the purpose of a comb； and this is assiduously used at idle moments to keep the densely growing mass from becoming matted and tangled。 The majority have short woolly hair； which does not seem capable of an equally luxuriant development。 A growth of hair somewhat similar to this； and almost as abundant； is found among the half…breeds between the Indian and Negro in South America。 Can this be an indication that the Papuans are a mixed race？
For the first three days after our arrival I was fully occupied from morning to night building a house； with the assistance of a dozen Papuans and my own men。 It was immense trouble to get our labourers to work； as scarcely one of them could speak a word of Malay； and it was only by the most energetic gesticulations； and going through a regular pantomime of what was wanted； that we could get them to do anything。 If we made them understand that a few more poles were required； which two could have easily cut； six or eight would insist upon going together； although we needed their assistance in other things。 One morning ten of them came to work； bringing only one chopper between them； although they knew I had none ready for use。
I chose a place about two hundred yards from the beach； on an elevated ground； by the side of the chief path from the village of Dorey to the provision…grounds and the forest。 Within twenty yards was a little stream； which furnished us with excellent