Chapter I: Preface

Since very little information has so far appeared through the medium of the British press concerning those possessions in the Pacific, included under the comprehensive title of the Protectorate of New Guinea, it has seemed to me that to shape my voluminous notes into book-form may be of use to future travellers. With that end in view, it also appears desirable to explain that much in these remote islands remains to be discovered. Speculative theories therefore, however tempting the data, have been scrupulously avoided.

In the compilation of this work a simple description of conditions, which came under the writer’s notice, is all that is attempted. It is, moreover, hoped that the reader will not be severe to mark amiss the latitude of expression which the authoress has permitted herself, in the belief that she has not thereby exceeded those limits of discursiveness which may justly be extended to confirmed globe-trotters.

B. P.-B.

_London, 1909._

CONTENTS

PAGE

CHAPTER I 1

Introductory remarks--on the _Prinz Waldemar_--incident
in the German Consulate at Sydney--the Maoris--their
present condition--difficulties in the German colony.

CHAPTER II 20

Confusing nomenclature of the Protectorate--the
Papuan type--the Melanesian--Blanche Bay and
environs--Simpsonhafen--walk to Matupi--the captain
of the _Sumatra_--on the Admiralty Islands--the
Moánus--the Usiai--the Matankor.

CHAPTER III 42

Hotel at Herbertshöhe--planters’ meetings--Docman
and “Collars”--Dr Thurnwald--traces of great
volcanic activity--the Bainings and the Sulkas--facial
ornamentation of Gazelle kanakas.

CHAPTER IV 57

Cannibals in prison--“the yelp of the beast”--history
of the Bismarck Archipelago--Spanish secretiveness--
Dampier and Carteret’s voyages--the New Guinea
Company.

CHAPTER V 74

A visit to the R. C. mission--Bishop Coppée on various
islanders--the nuns--their schools--murder of ten
missionaries--congregation of natives.

CHAPTER VI 89

A visit to Mr Parkinson--native markets--the diseased
condition of the kanakas--cultivation of taro--the
island products--the uses of bamboo and cocoanut-palm.

CHAPTER VII 106

Queen Emma’s residence--her fame in the South Sea--a
digression--details of the copra trade--“Black-birding”
--a Polynesian group of islanders--the Carteret islands
and Sir Charles Hardy Group.

CHAPTER VIII 124

I call on the Governor--sun-worshippers--the
misadventures of a decade--British colonists--I
inspect “police boys”--a “white Australia” policy
condemned.

CHAPTER IX 140

Slavery formerly practised--Baining characteristics--
an unknown race--three degrees of religious
development--Tingenatabaran--ethical perception of
the Sulkas--tamboo--magic.

CHAPTER X 157

Natives humanely treated--Australasian ladies--visit
to the Australasian Methodist Mission--New Ireland
described--settlement effected--higher plane of
culture.

CHAPTER XI 171

Early start to visit bush kanakas--a terrible
tragedy--Governor’s classification of Archipelago
peoples--dense bush--native villages--method of
catching flying foxes.

CHAPTER XII 185

Duties of a chief--_uviana_ and _luluai_ described--
_kamara_ used by Europeans--status of women--nuptial,
symbolic and other ceremonies--_vuvue_ feast--
trepanning.

CHAPTER XIII 201

The shooting ground--hornbill dance--secret
societies--the Duk Duk--Ingiet.