Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-02-05
kXPLOkING NEW GUINEA.

Exploring NEW GUINEA.
The Sydney Herald in the last week
Of November was filled with reports of
the loss of the Geographical Society's
expedition TO Ses Guinea. Deep inter
est was excited and a relief expedition
was sent out The report proved to be
a canard, as on November 18th the party
reached Brisbane in their vessel, the
bonito. The members of the party
were extremely reticent, as they had
been charged to preserve secrecy in re-
gard to the incideBts of the voyage,
which had been practically unsuccessful.
The Bonito assembled the / ly river, leav-
ing the Arid river UNEMPLOYED. for rea-
sons previously explained. On the Fly
river the little steamer was several times
asssiIed by natives. Some distance
above Ellangowan island, which is
about 10 miles from the entrance to the
Fly river, a branch river was discovered,
nowing from northeast direction. IL
was at this point that the exploration
work Of the expedition commenced in
earnest. Tbs 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 800 miles were traversed
when the Bonito grounded. She then
lay stuck on a mudbank for four or five
weeks. 1t was daring this time that the
two native guides or pilots escaped and
brought the false story about the mem
sers OF the expedition having been
massscred.
The party in the whaleboat, sent on
after the Bonits grounded. consisted Of
| SIX men, and they took ten days prOvi
sions 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
iRgly doled sut. They cut their way
through the jungle until they reached q
range of mountains, and, on observa-
lions being made, 1t was agreed that
they had hit the boundary line. Half
starved, covered with boils and in a
weakened condition, the party returned
to the vessel. On their return, after
leaving the tributary, the vhaler as
oended the Fly river few miles and
came to what they considered to be the
Dutch territory. The character Of the
scenery here changed totally. The im-
penstrsble Malayan jungle gave place
to spleHdidly grassed country that
| rolled for miles around. Here was seen
for the first time the banksis. the hon
sysuckle 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 Bonito,
steam was got up and a start was made
\ for home.
| On the way down another broad river
was found emptying into the Fly. II
was not assembled, nor has il yet been
named. The Fly is infested with ALI
gators. but there are very few fish. The
party bad some brushes with the natives
and there was little bloodshed, bat
q thing worth talking of. The natives
were treacherous. and could not for a
moment be trusted. A strict watch was
always kept IN the Bonito. and every
man had his arms at hand and ready to
turn out at moments notice. They
ridicule the idea of a massacre, stating
that they were very careful, and that
the party was strong enough to keep
thousands OF the natives at bay. An
amusing story is told of how they
frightened the natives on the Fly at a
place that has been named Runaway
Point. The natives had gathered In
thousands, and bad lined the bank oil
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 gorge
Gus planes of birds wings. IL Ia said
that the sight was a grand one. Those
on shore set up war chant and went
through o kind Of dance. The natives
IN The canoes caught up the strain, and
the chant Of Tai aroba. tai aroba," in
harmonious cadences, filled the air
With their hideously bedecked bodies
the natives on land looked like demons
as they chanted and went through the
9rotesque but graceful movements. The
party were awaiting an attack, when il
was determined on board TO astonish
the natives, 90 they blew the steam whis
tie Of the Bonito, and three deafenins
notes from 10 drowned the var chant
and completely dispersed the dosky var
riors. The war canoes were upset and
she river was dotted with black heads
With the paint half washed of theiI
faces, and their plumss fiattensd out and
elinginR to their skulls. The natives or
ths shore cleared for their lives into the
jungle, leaving their bows, arrows, arm
lets and other things behind them. The
steamer was attacked at another place
which has been called Attack Point. bal
the men are not communicative 90 THU
matter.
The further inland the party went the
more natives we're seen. Ia fact. they
appeared literally TO swarm in sons
places They are powerful men anC
are consummste liars. With the bov
they are extremely expert and are deadl,
shots. For the first couple Of hundres
miles up the river the natives trade fo
tobacco principally, but beyond the dis
lance mentioned the inhabitants me
With would sell or do anything for ,
piece Of red flannel. Sage 10 plentiful
among them, and the pigs are innumer
able.
The party brings a score Of new bird,
and variety Of insects. The insecil
are beautiful and valuable, aud some Of
the beetles. moths, Butterflies and grass
hoppers are OF Sufficient beauty to o. nc
an entsmolosist into ecstacies. Their
are among the ibsscts several whict
show protective initiative markings, a.
one large leaf moth 10 % shared ane
eolorsd that only the keen eve q |,
naturalist would take II 20 be an insect
The color of the dead leaf is perfecti,
initiated, and the back is lined viii
veins just ss in leaf. Then there il
also very large erasshopper that resem
bles very closely green leaf. bot tbs
naturalist OF the party regrets that they
kept to the water instead Of taking e
tAs mountains.