Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-08
EXPLORATIONS IN THE PACIFIC.

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i EXPLORATIONS In THE PACIFIC.
An interesting of the explorations of the Bri-
tish ship Rattesnaks Capt STANLEY on the southeastern
shores of New Guinea and in the Louisade Archipelago
during the years go has been published in London
by Mr.. McGMLvRAY, the naturalist Of the expedition.
The work affords excellent description of that region,
which, but brief period since almost unknown, has,
since the commencement Of the Australian emigration.
promised occupy for the future Insignificant station
among the countries of the earth.
Mr. McGILLIvnAY aays Of the inhabitants Of New Gui-
nea and the Lousiades that nothing be singu
lar than their appearance with their long fixzed hair
standing out from their heads in mop Of foot and
half in diameter From the back Of this hangs huge
plated pgail ornamented with the teeth of pigs and
dogs. In front is stuck long pronged comb, fantas
cally adorned with feathers The wear hardly any
clothing although their bodies profusey ornamented
pquancy being given to the whole costume by human
jaw with couple of collar bones securely lashed toge
ther bracelet, but whether as the memorial of de-
ceased friend the trophy Of slain foe the officers Of
the Rattlesnake could not determine The women
attired in grass petcoat elegantly made and decora-
ted with no little taste.
I DIR. McGmLIvRAY made several attempts to establish
intimacy with the natives shore, but invariably
found that the moment they saw that their numerical
force greater than that of the whites they began to
be troublesome, and occasion made Intellectual
attack the ships boats. Their determined hostility
prevented him from making any explorations in the in
terror We quote the following Of bartering
which occurred at Bruny island in the Lousade
Archipelago:
"We landed at the place before and this timo
the natives ran down prancing and gestcuating Many
Of them had garands of leaves round their heads
knees and ankles; long streamers depending
from their and ears, and floating in the wind
they gaoped along, shaking their spears and prancng
just boys do when playing at horses. They
rounded as shouting Kelumai, keumai = (ther word
all rfq in
la----y uas,, u,,J
was perfectly mad get axe and very compre-
hended the arrangements that made Mr.. Brady
drew ten lines the sand and laid down by them,
giving K q really cannot write that long a
agan to understand by signs that when there was
banar (yam) every mark he should have the
He comprehended directly, and boted off fast he
could returning with his hands full of yams
which he deposited by the appropriate lines
then, fearful lest of the others should do him out
of the axe, he caught hold of Brady by the arm, and
would not let him go until yas enough had been brought
by the others to make up the number and tho axe was
handed over to him. . .
Then there was a. yell of delight! He jumped up
with the axe dourshed it. passed it to his companions
tumbed down and rolled over, kicking up his heels in
the air. and finally catching bold of me- had grand
waltz with various poses pdshqu for about quarter
i of mile"
The Doctor exchanged with his black friend
mark Of regard and called him by his own appelation,
Tamoo, whereupon all the natives gathered round and
paed him, evidently thinking that he very intelli
gent white fellow. The natives, both Of Guinea gnd
Of the smaller islands, always exhibited great curiosity
look at the legs of the white men, and would ask per-
mission very gently, but pressingy. pull up the
SER spanning the calf with their hands, drawing in their
breath and taking big eyes all the while On
son when they the front Of the Doctors shirt blow
open exhibiting his white breast they set up universal
shout +..
The dangers to the ship during her stay among the
reefs and rocks of the Lousade Archipelago often
very great. On OCCASION when they could not fnd
anchorage they obliged to send ashore
to build fire, by the aid of which they managed to keep
the ship in the position all night within very
limited space which they knew be free Of shoals At
another .ime when they had been for week enveloped
in fogs they succeeded in finding anchorage under
the shelter of small island The next morning nothing
was to be upon the land side beyond the island
but heavy clouds above and rolling mist below while to
seaward oil was es clear possible.
About an hour after sunset change over tho
scene far magical far sudden than any thing
attempted the stage, when the dark green curtain
is drawn up to show the opening of some pan
tomme. All at once the clouds began to lit, the mist
dispersed and in the Of half hour the Of
New Guinea stood before u.s. clearly defined against the
sky, ttnged with The rays OF the setting
The mountains seemed piled above another to
enormous height and of deeper blue than bave
ever seen before, in the Straits Of Magellan They
we're nersccted by immense gorges and from tho foot d
the lowest ranges considerable tract of low and appa
rently alluvial soil reached to the beach.
ITO give idea of this by description would be
utterly impossible. The intense blue OF the mountains
contrasting strangely with of white eecy Clouds
driven rapidly past them by the gae the bright CLEANS
OF the setting the hills, covered with the
luxurious vegetation, from which the uyste-
rious ,te jets of very white smoke from time time
burst and the two surveying ships quite in the fore
ground surrounded ~ native canoes, completed the pic
turc which did enjoy very long for in these isti-
tudes yen know there is twilight and in less than
hour from the time the clouds began to rise all was
dark; and though We saw many Of the peaks again,
had another chance Of seeing the whole range
clearly" '...
Subsequent observations showed that Of these
mountains fortyeigh miles off and high the
peak Of Tenerife.
DR.. McGILlivRAY expresses highly favorable opinion
of the fertility and capabilities Of New Guinea at
Of that portion of it which under the Observs
ton Of the surveyors high mountain plateau runs for
three or four hundred miles parallel with the coast at
distance Of some fifty miles from the shore continual
rain Is prscpsated by this high land which, descending
the form Of rivers wanders in rich detas through the
alluval Eats which extend backwards from The sea-
- ..... Boctoa Journal