Missions -- New Guinea; New Guinea -- Description and travel
3_rd_.--Last night I slept lightly, with Flora on watch, and Bob easily
aroused. After midnight he kept watch. We placed the lights beyond
tents on each side, and so arranged that the light would strike on any
native nearing camp. About two a.m. Lavao's wife No. 2 came up with her
grandchild, goods, and chattels for safety. The Loloans were coming. All
right; all ready. Very loud, noisy talking in village. At four, we
called out for Kone, who came up telling us that we should be first
disposed of, then Delena. I went to the village, and saw the old
friendly chief from Lavao. I told him any Loloan coming over the brow of
the hill with weapons we should consider as coming to fight, and we were
ready. At five, women and children crowded into camp, with all their
belongings, and asked for protection. Certainly; we shall do what we can
for them. Men are running all about, planting arms in convenient places
in the bush. We are told to keep a good look-out--and that we shall. It
is now daylight, so we do not care much. The fight has begun in the
village. Some Loloans, running after Delena natives, rush uphill; we
warn them back, and they retire. There is a loud shout for us to go to
the village and fight. I leave Bob with guns and cartridges to keep
watch over camp. I have more confidence in the skirmish unarmed, and
have no wish for the savages to think I have come to fight. I shout out
_Maino_, and soon there is a hush in the terrible storm. I am allowed to
walk through the village, disarm one or two, and, on my return to our
friend Kone's end of the village, he whispers to me, "There is Arua,"
understanding him to mean the chief, or _vata tauna_ (sorcerer). I
recognize in him the man introduced to me on a former visit, and who in
wrath cleared out from my presence. Now might be his time to pay me out.
I take his weapons from him, link him on to me, and walk him up the hill.
I speak kindly to him, show him flag, and tell him we are _maino_, and
warn him that his people must on no account ascend the hill. All right,
he will stop the fighting. I sit down to write this, when again they
rush up for me, saying Kone was to be killed. Leaving Bob with arms in
charge, I go down to the village, and without my hat. More canoes have
arrived. What a crowd of painted fiends! I get surrounded, and have no
way of escape. Sticks and spears rattle round. I get a knock on the
head, and a piece of stick falls on my hand. My old Lavao friend gets
hold of me and walks me to outskirt. Arua and Lauma of Lolo assure me
they will not ascend the hill, and we had better not interfere with them.
"Right, friend; but you must stop, and on no account injure my friend
Kone." It would frighten them were we to go armed to the village; but
then we dare not stay here twenty-four hours after. I can do more for
the natives unarmed. I am glad I am able to mix with both parties; it
shows they mean us no harm, and speaks well for the future.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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