Two Years Among the Savages of New Guinea.: With Introductory Notes on North Queensland.Pitcairn, W. D.
History
Two Years Among the Savages of New Guinea.: With Introductory Notes on North Queensland.
Pitcairn, W. D.
New Guinea -- Description and travel
Here I was introduced to the celebrated chief "Koepina."
He can place 4,000 fighting men in the field at a few hours' notice. He
is an old man, very tall and erect, with a Roman nose, austere looking,
and seldom speaks, but like the renowned parrot, "is a devil to think."
Strange to say, in this district and to the west of it the men are
absolutely nude, while the women wear the customary grass petticoat.
All the villages have a high palisade fence facing the sea, and
extending the whole length of the beach. This acts as a break-wind.
Koepina frequently makes a raid on tribes in the adjoining districts
and generally returns successful. The natives of this part speak the
Motu language. I spent some time on shore and visited several of the
villages.
The natives of Moapa, at the instigation of Koepina, have committed
many murders, which in their opinion, is something to be proud of.
We then proceeded to Port Moresby, having taken seven days on the trip.
The distance from Samarai is 350 miles. Port Moresby is the
headquarters of the London Missionary Society. The site of the mission
station was selected by Messrs. Lawes and Macfarlane, the pioneer
missionaries of New Guinea, in the year 1873. The Rev. W. G. Lawes had
for many years been a missionary in the South Seas, and therefore was
well fitted for the work. A few years later the Rev. James Chalmers
joined the mission, and at the close of the year 1885 the Rev. Dr.
Macfarlane severed his connection with New Guinea and left for England,
where he now resides. The mission has been established sixteen years,
and taking into consideration the enormous difficulties of the
undertaking, the result may be deemed satisfactory. Whether they have
succeeded in making any real converts to Christianity is a question I
prefer leaving open. Certain it is that in districts where their
influence has extended, the danger from the hostile acts of the natives
has been considerably lessened.
In the first years of its existence Port Moresby was very unhealthy,
many of those engaged in the work of the mission falling victims to
malarial fever. The health of the place has since improved, and at the
present time it is one of the healthiest on the coast.
The harbour forms a large bay, at the head of which stands the Mission
Station, consisting of numerous buildings: the dwelling-houses of the
leading missionaries, school-houses, a large building in which the
services are held, and two or three small houses. To the right of the
Mission Station, on a prominent rise, is "Government House," the
residence of Sir Wm. Macgregor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account