A
More Probable Supposition Seems To Lie, That The Tree-Kangaroo
Has Been Modified To Enable It To Feed On Foliage In The Vast
Forests Of New Guinea, As These Form The Great Natural Feature
Which Distinguishes That Country From Australia.
On June 5th, the coal-ship arrived, having been sent back from
Amboyna, with the addition of some fresh
Stores for the steamer.
The wood, which had been almost all taken on board, was now
unladen again, the coal taken in, and on the 17th both steamer
and tender left for Humboldt Bay. We were then a little quiet
again, and got something to eat; for while the vessels were here
every bit of fish or vegetable was taken on board, and I had
often to make a small parroquet serve for two meals. My men now
returned from Amberbaki, but, alas brought me almost nothing.
They had visited several villages, and even went two days'
journey into the interior, but could find no skins of Birds of
Paradise to purchase, except the common kind, and very few even
of those. The birds found were the same as at Dorey, but were
still scarcer. None of the natives anywhere near the coast shoot
or prepare Birds of Paradise, which come from far in the interior
over two or three ranges of mountains, passing by barter from
village to village till they reach the sea. There the natives of
Dorey buy them, and on their return home sell them .to the Bugis
or Ternate traders. It is therefore hopeless for a traveller to
go to any particular place on the coast of New Guinea where rare
Paradise birds may have been bought, in hopes of obtaining
freshly killed specimens from the natives; and it also shows the
scarcity of these birds in any one locality, since from the
Amberbaki district, a celebrated place, where at least five or
six species have been procured, not one of the rarer ones has
been obtained this year. The Prince of Tidore, who would
certainly have got them if any were to be had, was obliged to put
up with a few of the common yellow ones. I think it probable that
a longer residence at Dorey, a little farther in the interior,
might show that several of the rarer kinds were found there, as I
obtained a single female of the fine scale-breasted Ptiloris
magnificus. I was told at Ternate of a bird that is certainly not
yet known in Europe, a black King Paradise Bird, with the curled
tail and beautiful side plumes of the common species, but all the
rest of the plumage glossy black. The people of Dorey knew
nothing about this, although they recognised by description most
of the otter species.
When the steamer left, I was suffering from a severe attack of
fever. In about a week I got over this, but it was followed by
such a soreness of the whole inside of the mouth, tongue, and
gums, that for many days I could put nothing solid between my
lips, but was obliged to subsist entirely on slops, although in
other respects very well. At the same time two of my men again
fell ill, one with fever, the other with dysentery, and both got
very bad. I did what I could for them with my small stock of
medicines, but they lingered on for some weeks, till on June 26th
poor Jumaat died. He was about eighteen years of age, a native, I
believe, of Bouton, and a quiet lad, not very active, but doing
his work pretty steadily, and as well as he was able. As my men
were all Mahometans, I let them bury him in their own fashion,
giving them some new cotton cloth for a shroud.
On July 6th the steamer returned from the eastward. The weather
was still terribly wet, when, according to rule, it should have
been fine and dry. We had scarcely anything to eat, and were all
of us ill. Fevers, colds, and dysentery were continually
attacking us, and made me long I-o get away from New Guinea, as
much as ever I had longed to come there. The captain of the Etna
paid me a visit, and gave me a very interesting account of his
trip. They had stayed at Humboldt Bay several days, and found it
a much more beautiful and more interesting place than Dorey, as
well as a better harbour. The natives were quite unsophisticated,
being rarely visited except by stray whalers, and they were
superior to the Dorey people, morally and physically. They went
quite naked. Their houses were some in the water and some inland,
and were all neatly and well built; their fields were well
cultivated, and the paths to them kept clear and open, in which
respects Dorey is abominable. They were shy at first, and opposed
the boats with hostile demonstrations, beading their bows, and
intimating that they would shoot if an attempt was made to land.
Very judiciously the captain gave way, but threw on shore a few
presents, and after two or three trials they were permitted to
land, and to go about and see the country, and were supplied with
fruits and vegetables. All communication was carried on with them
by signs - the Dorey interpreter, who accompanied the steamer,
being unable to understand a word of their language. No new birds
or animals were obtained, but in their ornaments the feathers of
Paradise birds were seen, showing, as might be expected, that
these birds range far in this direction, and probably all over
New Guinea.
It is curious that a rudimental love of art should co-exist with
such a very low state of civilization. The people of Dorey are
great carvers and painters. The outsides of the houses, wherever
there is a plank, are covered with rude yet characteristic
figures. The high-peaked prows of their boats are ornamented with
masses of open filagree work, cut out of solid blocks of wood,
and often of very tasteful design, As a figurehead, or pinnacle,
there is often a human figure, with a head of cassowary feathers
to imitate the Papuan "mop." The floats of their fishing-lines,
the wooden beaters used in tempering the clay for their pottery,
their tobacco-boxes, and other household articles, are covered
with carving of tasteful and often elegant design.
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