New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-23
NEU.GCINEA TO BE CVHI/ED.

While the British find the limits OF their IN
fiuence in Asia clearly defined by Russian
advances, they seem likely, in compensation
for this, to extend in and below the tropics
over nearly all the islands of the sea. When
the Fiji islanders were seeking protectorate,
and our own Government was dallying with
the speculation, the prophecy was made III
Germany that the acceptance w0uid prove an
entering wedge to the occupation of uncvli-
lied lands in those distant seas, and that the
next in order would be Nrw-Gunca. England
accepted the Fiji protectOrate, and all the
trouble that has come with that rash
expcrmcnt seems not to hinder the fullillmcnt
of the prophecy. Three considerable expedl-
tions for the purpose of settling New-Guin@@
have been announced. One ct these has been
the occasion Of large and influential town
meeting held at Sydney, \. :. W., and II was
there stated that many emigrants with their
families were engaged for the expedition. They
hope to open trade with Australian ports Tor
the products of NcwGUinea, among which are
named cocoanut and palm oils, various tropl-
cal woods and spices arrowroot, sage, and
sugar. pearl and turtle shell', bfche de mer
and trcpang The last two articles, we be!i9se,
are the same thing an animal OF the sea-
cucumber kind, very curious in an aquarium.
but only available a a toOthsome moiscl Tor
Inc ralates Of epicurean Chinese.
The expeditons starting from Australia have
their support at least in part in England, and
the promoters of the scheme find place Tor It's
advocacy in British journals. 1t has assumed
so serious an aspect that The LOHdOn Times
discusses with grave concern the probable con-
seoucnces There is no mention of inerna-
tional complications Is likely to ensuc. II may
be doubted whether any civilized power has Il
firm right to the territory of New-Guinea In
1875 Holland took nominal possession at the
south western coast of the island and founded
3 colony there, at Triton Bay. But this col
ony was soon afterward withdrawn, and if
any right to the territory of Ncw-Guinca is
invested still in the Dutch Government on
account of discovery, il can at most only
apply TO the western portion OF the
island The proposed settlements of the En-
glish are destined for the eastern coast, which
was explored very fully in an expedition of
the BasilSk under Capt. MOresby in 1878.
There is plenty of room on the island. as 1t is
more than onc-thrd larger than France. How
little is popularity known of it was recently
illustrated by the success of Il book describing
sporting and other adventures in New-Gunea.
II ran the gauntlet of the reviews and obtained
fair commentator az Il volume of travel.
Eventually, however, naturalist read the
book, and announced that 1t was entirely
fabulous as most of the plants and animals
described do not exist upon the island.
We need not plunge headlong into regret
that the United States are dstanced in the
go,
kindly race, as genial and pleasant savages,
one discovcrer says, could well be met.
AT the same time" he remarks, 81 have no
"doubt they do little cannibalism among
"themselves.' They have way of
using human skulls and vertebre IA
ornamental articles, the latter adorn-
ing the women, who were at first
supposed to be clad in fine, transparent lace,
which subsequent investigation revealed as
only tatt0Oing. These natives supposed their
English visitors were painted, and. being per-
mitted scrubbed some of the British skin Wig
Orousy expecting 10 rub off its wilderness. A
solemn rite, by which they ratified their friend
ship with the white people, consisted in bring
ing a dog on the deck of the vessel and
knocking his brains out. On one occasion a
party of explorers on shore, being very hungry,
proposed to share her meal with the ma
tron OF native household; but on seeing
lizard. four feet long, in the pot,
they lost their appettes. The climate is
equable, but mosquitoes thicken the air
at MONDAY. Missionaries of both sexes
have been left on the island, but they die off
rapidly with fever, Notwithstanding the virtues
of the native practice in such diseases, which
consists in bleeding from the forehead and
scratching the backbone with flint. II all
the products that are to be had on the island