New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A NATURALIST IN NEW GUINEA.

Nav. (;uinea five times between 1872 and 1913 lor
the purpose Of making collections OF BIRDS insects
and reptleu He touched at several points on 'ne
northwest and southeast coasts OF the lsiahd' anu
ut last made highly interesting and Important OK
ne.litons mn tho Fly River into tho very heart OF
the upexplored and inhosptable country lie
seems to have met with the most brilliant success
An tha chief object of his search lie brought home
uumerous spe ciuens of the rarcr birds OF paradise
and other great prizes of naturalists; and the
catalogue of his pathological collection includes
nearly 500 species sixty Of which are set down as
nav Many Of these he WIS able to observe care
fully in their habits of life. His COLLECTION OIL 'i-
scots Is not enumerated, but it appears from inc
narrative to be very large; and he gathered aiso
sreat many skulls and other objects OF interest 10
ethnol ogists, and Some hundreds OF specimens Oh
plants The enthusiasm with which he deserves
the ACQUISITION Of species-especialiy IN the ue
partment of ornithology-gives a certain dramatic
interest to story whose value only the scientific
reader eau fully appreciate. We are half ready 10
wish that we might have shared his dangers and
invitations IL we could have shared also his rapture
over the discovery of the gorgeous Pdrddised hd0'
oiopo and the slaughter of fine cassowary, or MS
recolections of that great day when he shot not
only Lophor;na dtrd in its garment OF love tAlr
Wallace was never able to see his bird alive'. nut
also % Pdrofa seJpcnH,s surprised IN the very ae'
of moving his FURNISHED crest, expanding and con-
frastine his feathers and jumping from side to slde
with n curious cry, as il challenging an enemy or
inviting me universe to observe his beauty.
In his first voyage Sig. PAlbertis was accom-
panied by another Italian naturalist DIR. Beccarl'
who seems to have applied himself principally 10
botanical researches though to tell the truth, his
share in the expedition is not very clearly defined.
The travellers chartered schooner at Amhoyna,
,;tl.c Nolo nnI
which forms the northwestern extremity of New
Gunea. They passed nearly year on that coast
and the adjacent small islands. making short eN-
cur,ions inland from time to time, with Papuan
guides Tho natives often troublesome,
morose and thievsh. though not really dangerous
and the worst peril the white mcn had TO encounter
was fever from which Sig. dAlbertis as well as his
servants suffered severely. lie was terribly re-
duced by illness when an Italian manof-war took
him on board, and after enabling him to visit the
southeastern extremity Of Papua conveyed ann TO
Australia. lie returned 10 Europe Ivy waV oil tue
Sandwich Islands. san Francisco and Ncwlork;
and as soon as his health was restored he prepared
for q second Journey. Having determined TO make
his Headquarters at lulc Island, on the south coast
OF Papua. he fixed upon Somerset at the extremity
of the Australian colony of Queensland, as the
most convenient point OF departure. Thence, IN
March, 1873. he obtained transportation TO lulo
Island in German vessel engaged III tile mother
of-psarl fishery. lie was accompanied by
Ccnocse Young gentleman named Tomasnell, two
Cingalese servants, and sixteen Polyneslans, whom
he took into his employment Put ashore ON
Yue Island, be was fortunate enough to lind FAVOR
in the eyes of woman evidently oil rank ana III
fucpce whom he called the Queen" and no OBJ
lection was made when lie proposed to buy piece
of land, for q certain value in knives. axes aud
18th nd m hui a house.
natives. among whom was Nami" the husband of
the Oucenl "conversed together for some time III
an animated manner aud then, as il they were
agreed, they made signs TO me that they accepted
my proposal. -Four young men were sent 10 the
four angles OF the square which had delnanden
and set fire to the long grass within the settled
limits Presently sort If black veil was spread
over that part of the island the natives made signs
to me that the black portion was mine, and that
which was outside its bounds was theirs. handed
them all l had promised and they received tie
articles with shouts of joy The house was soon
built, and Sig. dAlberts applied himself for time
with some tact TO the delicate task OF cementing
the friendly relations established with the natives
The misconduct of some of his Polynesan servants
and the churlishness of the islanders led to many
troubles but TO none that could be called scrions
In his excursions to the villages on the mainland
of New-(fuinea our traveller was also careful to
make friends One incident of this system of con-
citation is told with some comic force;
To show that really meant to lie friends win
ARA and his people, embraced aud kissed him IN
the open place in tue village and afteIward, AMIDST
general laughter proceeded TO kiss all the Won en-
The scene was certainly q very conical one some
of the most tind wanted to rcpel my embrace, Uut
were urged by the others to submit. Although 1t
was incumbent on me. in orier to prove my impair
tiaty, and to give ceremonial appearance 10 the
performance. to Kiss all the old and ugly women ID
Al,fx hp
The men also wished to seal their friendship with
n kiss but / explained to them that only the chief
aud the " omen had right to this observance
But SIG. dAlbcrtis relied moro upon fear than
friendship in managing the Papuans. Very few of
them had ever white man before, and to their
YES the stranger presented himself as powerful
magician. who was capable OF doing them treDen-
dous harm, and as to whom it was sometimes an
open question with them whether he Onght to 10
propitiatea or driven ont of the country Sig.
dAlbertis was only too ready to encourage the de-
fusion rs to his supernatural powers. He burned
alcohol in shell, to convince them that he could
set water on fire: and then lie terrified them by
threatening to apply match to the sea- lie pre-
tended TO drink the burning spirit of aniseed, as II
be could feast on flames He felled trees with
dynamite. His gun was a perpetual marvel and
alright. On one occasion, when lie was displcased,
he disposed o quantity OF loose gunpOwder about
the interior of hut and ut an OppoI tune moment
fire and smoke end sulphurous fumes filled the
place. A thunder shower happened to break out
Immediately afteiwari. and he pretended to have
accused it. All these imposing performances how
ever, did not deter the savascs from robbinG his
house while he was absent on an excursion and
carrying OIL a great deal OF property. This brought
affairs to q crisis He demanded the restoration OF
the stolen articles within twenty-four hours,
threatening il his orders were not Obeyed. to fire
upon everyone who came within reach OF ha gun.
He exploded number Of rockets and bombs. ~ an