The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-03
IN A STATE OF NATURE.
Except that some Wore Rude Ornaments,
and Others were Tattooed.

We left Sydney on the 9th of May, 1876,
arriving at Hong Kong on the 10Th. after a very
passages rom sydney TO Hong KONG are verv
little known a. yet. We came the middle pass
aee-that Is, east Of New Guinea, New Britain,
and New Ireland, but west Of the Solomon
Islands.
On passing a small island called Fishers
Island, situated close to New Ireland, we no e
ticed c noes coming on. 80 stopped TO see what
the blacks, or rather sayages, wanted. About
forty canoes came alongside, with crews OF from
one TO six men, bringing with them bananas,
cocoanuts, and apples. These creatures wore
no clothes Of any kind, barring few VINO
They stand about Ave feet four. rather we'll
made, not stout, nor Of the deep black you
In the African negro, but more OF Bengalee
color and appearance. The hair seems to have
been originally black, but they dye in two or
three different colors, as black, green, or white ;
some all red, or brick shade. II - cut short,
but with what | do not know. Some wore a
necklace, some bracelets OF shells. but only one
could We see with ring through his nose.
There were u few tattooed, but to very small
extent
We were rather surprised to and one IN each
boat have on his right arm few green leaves
resembling those Of the olive. They did not
draw our attention to them. so / suppose they
emblem OF peace" That seems to be known 10y
every savage tribe. Even when frat seen by
white men they wave the green.
These men seemed TO be quite friendly. trying
to make us understand them. We gave them a
they were anxious to get, but, above all things,
bottles. rney use the glass for carving on
wood. One fellow got a looking glass: he turned
r2SRd snd EspeP u e W aapa aaSn tHsi ns eetf
forget the laugh he gave when AT last he saw his
blacs face IN II. The more he laughed the more
his likeness laughed he could not make II out (;
hs Imagined there was some one at the back OF
the glass.
The clothes we had given them had only one
fauli-that was, they did not know how TO put
them ON. Ii was ludicrOu- to see them irving
to put ON vests. 1t shows now little they know
% white men, II ANYTHING. We offered them
pipes. tobacco, and ma'ches. hut they refused
them all. Now. the FIRST things a black, who has
been IN company with whites, asks for are rum
aud tobacco, think II probat lie these savages
had never seen steamer or white men before,
aud, everything being beyond their comprehen-
sion, accounts for their not being frightened.
They all seemed highly pleased.
there were about two hundred OF them, and
great many were coming on; but we could not
wall. L have every reason to believe that We
made good impression on them, but they are
not to be trusted. When vessels are lost ON the
islands. they nrst take the ship, then murder
the whites and eat them. The canoes are very
nicely cut out OF a log, aud prettily ornamented
at the ends. This they do with sharp stones.
lney use small paddle as oar On our
stesming ahead, they accompanied us two or
three miles, but, seeing they could not keep
pace. they gave US a loud cheer aud turned
homewaru.