The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-02
FOOD FOE CANEIBALS
Missouri Republican.


Mr.. j. W. Buel of this city, the author
of q large number Of sensational booGs,
will sail about the months OF April or
May next on an expedition under COM
mission from the Smithsonian institution
for the exploration Of the island OF Nes
Guinea. This is the largest island on the
globe, lying Immediately north Of Aus
tralia, from which it is separated by L
strait ninety miles wide, discovered bg
Torres, whose name it bears, in 1905
The extreme length of New Guinea from
northwest to northeast is 800 miles, and
its width at Geelvink bay is twenty five
miles. The total area Of the island IS
800, 900 square miles, being larger than
the German empire or than any other
single European country.
New Guinea was discovered In 1911,
but seventeen years afterwards Capt
Aibaro de Saavedera of Spain coa5tcd It's
northern shore where, on meeting the IA,
tives wearing gold ornaments, he gave to
the island the name, Isle del Orc island
of gold" In 1916 it was renamed New
Guinea by Spanish captain, Retes, who
believed it to be a newly discovered land
In 100 Capt. James Cook surveyed the
passage through Torres strait, but on a r.
count Of the hostility Of the natives never
attempted to make more than one land
ing. Capt. Cook with twelve men we'll
armed went ashore were they discovered
the prints OF human feet upon the sand
They advanced about o quarter of mile
from the boat when three Indians rushed
out of the woods with hideous shout.
and as they ran towards them the fore
most threw something out If his h 1d-
which flew on one side Of Capt Cook
men and burned exactly like gunpowdor
though without making any report The
two other natives, having DISCHARGED
their arrows, Capt. Cook and his party
were under the necessity of firing, frs
with small shot and second time witt
ball; upon this the three Indians ran awa7
with great agility. As Capt. Cook has
no disposition to Gorcibly invade thC
country, and was convinced that nothin.
could be done on friendly terms, be an(
his companions retreated towards thei
boats. When they were aboard the nakeC
natives, to the number of 100, came down
to the shore shouting defiance and lettin!
off their 'fres"-four or five at time.
The English could not imagine VIVA
these fires were or what purpose the,
were intended to answer. Those witt
discharged them had in their hands shor
piece OF stick which they swung sideway
from them. Immediately there issuet
fire and smoke, exactly resembling thos
of q musket, and of as short duration
The men on board the ship who observes
this were so far deceived as to imagiu
that the Indians had firearms, which hat
the appearance of firing without re
port Capt Cook resolved to spent n
more time on this coast. Little is We
known about the island. Aside fror
other inducements to explore New GU
nea there are political questions now up
permost that make the island of extraor
binary interest to every civilized nation
Mr.. Buel had nearly perfected arrange
ments with P. T. Barnum, who was t
advance $4,000 for the expedition; bu
the agreement is now of. Mr.. Buel la
good hackers and expects representa-
tive of publishing house from Ne'
York to day at the soutlern TO. confer 0
the subject Bnel had issued notices in
wiling fifty men to join hun IN the under
taking. lie has also issued proposals fo
fastpsailing brig to leave San Francisco
this will make the voyage much shorlt
than from New York, VIA the horn. III