New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-02-03
,ExpLoRNG NEW GUINEA.


EXPLORING NEW GUINEA.
work of the geographical Society Ex-
ned1tion---Native Treachery.
The Sydney Herald in the last week
of November was filled with the re-
ports of the Geographical society's cx-
petition to New Guinea. Deep interest
was excited and a relief expedition was
sent out. The report proved to be
rcanard, as on Nov. % the party reached
Brisbane in their vessel, the Bonito.
The members of the party were ex-
tremely reticent, as they had been
charged to preserve secrecy in regard
to the incidents Of the voyage, in re-
gard to the incidents Of the voyage,
which had been practically unsuccess-
full. The Bonito assembled the Fly river.
leaving the Arid unexplored, for rea-
sons previously explained On the Fly
river the little steamer was several
times assailed by natives. Some dis
lance above Ellangowan island, which
is about ITO miles from the entrance to
the Fly river, a branch river was dis
covered flowing from a northeasterly
direction. It was at this point that the
exploration work of the expedition COM
menced in earnest. The country on
either side is described as fat and poor.
The banks are lined with mangroves.
The river flowed very rapidly, and was
clear and fresh. Nearly three hundred
miles were trayersed when the Bonito
grounded. She then lay stuck on a
mudbank for four or five weeks. It was
during this time that the two native
guides or pilots escaped and brought the
false story about the members of the
expedition having been massacreed.
The party in the whaleboat, sent on
after the Bonito grounded, consisted of
six men, and they took ten days pro-
visions with them. They were away
for fourteen days, and during the last
three or four days they had to subsist on
something like extract of meat, spar
ingly dofed out. They cut their way
through the jungle until they reached
range Of mountains, and ON ebserva-
tons being made it was agreed that
they had hit the boundary line. Half
starved, covered with boils, and in
weakened condition, the party returned
to the vessel. On their return, after
leaving the tributary, the whaler as
cended the Fly river for few miles and
came to what they considered to be
the Dutch territory. The character of
the scenery changed totally. The i'm
penetrable Maylayan jungle gave way
to splendidly grassed country that
rolled for miles around. Here was
seen for the first time the banksia, the
heneysuckle, and other trees. The
men speak very highly of this portion
OF New Guinea. 1t was the best land
that the expedition saw during the trip.
The whaler having returned to the Bo-
nito, steam was got up and start was
made for home.
On the way down another broad river
was found emptying into the Fly. It
was not assembled, nor has it been
named yet. The Fly is invested with
alligators, but there are very few fish.
The party had some brushes with the
natives, and there was ga little blood
shed. but nothing worth talking Of"
The natives were treacherous, and could
not be trusted for moment. A stric-
watch was kept in the Bonito, and every
man had his arms at hand and ready to
turn out at a moments notice. They rid
lcule the idea of a massacre, stating that
they were very careful, that the party
were strong enough to keep thousands
of natives at bay. An amusing story is
told of how they frightened the natives
on the Fly, at q place that has been named
Runaway point. The natives had gath
cred in thousands, and had lined the
bank of the river, while hundreds
darted about in handsomely carved war
canoes. They were evidently ready to
attack the party, being all in their war
paint, with gorgeous plumes of birds
wings. It is said that the sight was
grand one. Those on shore set up
war chant, and went through kind of
dance. The natives in the canoes
caught up the strain, and the chant of
''Tai Aroba! Tai Aroba!" in harmonious
cadences, filed the air. With their
hideously bedecked bodies, the natives
on land looked like demons as they
chanted and went through the grotesque
but graceful movements. The party
were awaiting an attack, when it was
determined on board to astonished the
natives, so they blew the steam-whistle
of the Bonito, and three deafening
notes from it drowned the war chant
and completely dispersed the dusky
warriors. The war canoes were upset