The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-15

TO the northward Of the island CONT
nent Of Australia, separating it from the
large island # Papua, or New Guinea, H. S
n narrow strait, studied with innumtrabie
islands, rocks, shoals. reefs aud sand
banks, rendering the navigation intricate
and dangerous, and impassable except in
the hours Of daylight.
To add to the perilS, number of the
islands are inhabited by Papuan savageS
"A race apparently a cross between the
Malay and the negro Of Australia, and
possessing all the savage trcachery of the
former, with the disgusting, beStial fero-
city Of the latter class Of SavageS
1t is, therefore, generally the custom
when vessels are bound from Sydney, or
any port in Australia, to India or China
-ncceSSitating a passage through this
captain to wait for another, until two,
three, or more vessels are ready to sail
together, and to keep company, and to
render each other assistance, should it be
needed
The practice is for each vessel to keep
couple of men aolt during daylight to
mark the course, since the water is usual
Is >luooth as that Of lake, and the sand
banks and shoals can be distinctly seen
beneath Even then the currents are so
strong and uncertain that it is often found
difficult to thread some Of the narrow pas
>rsr> and a> soon as il becomes dark,
- inu spot is chosen wherein 10 come to
with a ktdge anchor during the night,
when it is necessary to keep wcll-armed
watch OH deck to prevent the crew from
being surprised by savages.
The islands are not all inhabited, and !
am of opinion that the natives are in the
habit Of roaming from one to another, as
their fancy chooses, or as. ii>h-their
chief iood-grow scarce. Many of the
Islands are perfect raradiScS. The land
is undulating, rising into hills of t0lerable
height. divided by valleys, equal in scene
ry to the happy abode OF lta>se'a>, Prince
Of Abyssinia They are well wooded,
well stocked with the wild fruits Of the
tropics, and abound in little lakes and
streams of fresh water. In fact they pos
scSs every variety OF scenery in miniature,
50 beautifully arranged that tits scarcely
possible tn believe that the art of the land.
scape gardener has not been employed to
increase the natural beauty Of these lovely
spots and how. the Savages who reside
upon them can retain their degraded char.
actcri>tics amidst everything that is cal
culated to soften and refine mans nature,
, it is difficult to conceive.
Several years ago the slOOp of waF Co.
quctte sailed from Sydney. bound fnr the
! China seas. Of course ships of war are
sufficiently well armed and manned to
protect themselves against any number
of savagcs, aud consequently they did not
wait for a consort, as is the case with
merchantmen.
The COquette duly reached the straits,
and on the second night afterwards came
to an anchor under one of the islands. It
was not yet dark, and the captain and
some OF the officers resolved to make a
trip on shore for an hour. 4 boat was
accordingly lowered, and the captain and
tive others, with crew, all well armed
in case Of treachery on the part Of the
natives, should there be any, landed on
the island. 1t was Of ho great extent, per-
hapS covering an area of not more than
fifteen or twenty acres, but the soil was
so undulating and 81 denSely wooded, and
miniature scenery 50 diversified, that il
had the appearance of much greater eX-
tent Of surface.
The officers, taking their fowling- pieces
with them, wandered all over the iSlald
| They saw numerous traces Of its having
been recently inhabited, for they came
across the ashes Of fires, evidently moi
long burnt out, aud found a turtle hall
roasted, but they met with no savages
In the midst of wood they came across
huge wooden idol, groteSqurly carved
with the mouth stuck full of shark teeth
and the surface stained with red and vel
low pigments. They shot several birds
and bringing the idol with them, returned
to the boat, where they found the sailors
who had been amusing themselves il
gathering shells, of which they had fonnC
several rare and curious specimens on thu
beech. These, with the birds and thu
idol, as souvenir of their visit, were al
put into the boat and carried on boart
the ship.
At ght o'clHck the night watch wa'
set, the same as if the vessel had been OF
the open sea, and nothing particular oc
curre.I until midnight, when, according t.
nautical custam, eight bells was struck
and the watch below was called to relieve
their shipmateS. Scarcely, however, hat
the last tone Of the bell ceased to vibrate
when Eight bells were again distinctly
struck.
Forward. there!' shouted the lieuten
ant of the watch. I say, who struck tina
bell?'
There was no reply.
who struck that bell? Who dared tt
strike it the second time? | insist upoI
knowing, cried the officer.
Please, sir, nobody at length answer
ed forecaStleman.
Mr.. Hardy said the lieutenant to th
bOatswain, who came aft at this moment
find out who struck that bell. | insis
upon knowing, SIR
The men say nobody was near the bel
after | struck eight bells, as usual, sir,
replied the boatSwain.
Did you not hear it?' asked the lieu
tenant