To Understand These, It Is Necessary To
Consider That The Birds Of Paradise Are An Article Of Commerce,
And Are The Monopoly Of The Chiefs Of The Coast Villages, Who
Obtain Them At A Low Rate From The Mountaineers, And Sell Them To
The Bugis Traders.
A portion is also paid every year as tribute
to the Sultan of Tidore.
The natives are therefore very jealous
of a stranger, especially a European, interfering in their trade,
and above all of going into the interior to deal with the
mountaineers themselves. They of course think he will raise the
prices in the interior, and lessen the supply on the coast,
greatly to their disadvantage; they also think their tribute will
be raised if a European takes back a quantity of the rare sorts;
and they have besides a vague and very natural dread of some
ulterior object in a white man's coming at so much trouble and
expense to their country only to get Birds of Paradise, of which
they know he can buy plenty (of the common yellow ones which
alone they value) at Ternate, Macassar, or Singapore.
It thus happened that when Mr. Allen arrived at Sorong, and
explained his intention of going to seek Birds of Paradise in the
interior, innumerable objections were raised. He was told it was
three or four days' journey over swamps and mountains; that the
mountaineers were savages and cannibals, who would certainly kill
him; and, lastly, that not a man in the village could be found
who dare go with him. After some days spent in these discussions,
as he still persisted in making the attempt, and showed them his
authority from the Sultan of Tidore to go where be pleased and
receive every assistance, they at length provided him with a boat
to go the first part of the journey up a river; at the same time,
however, they sent private orders to the interior villages to
refuse to sell any provisions, so as to compel him to return. On
arriving at the village where they were to leave the river and
strike inland, the coast people returned, leaving Mr. Allen to
get on as he could. Here he called on the Tidore lieutenant to
assist him, and procure men as guides and to carry his baggage to
the villages of the mountaineers. This, however, was not so
easily done. A quarrel took place, and the natives, refusing to
obey the imperious orders of the lieutenant, got out their knives
and spears to attack him and his soldiers; and Mr. Allen himself
was obliged to interfere to protect those who had come to guard
him. The respect due to a white man and the timely distribution
of a few presents prevailed; and, on showing the knives,
hatchets, and beads he was willing to give to those who
accompanied him, peace was restored, and the next day, travelling
over a frightfully rugged country, they reached the villages of
the mountaineers. Here Mr. Allen remained a month without any
interpreter through whom he could understand a word or
communicate a want.
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