The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-30

there lies a large island called on the mans.
New Britain, the native name of which is
Berara. 1t is nearly three hundred miles
In length and, in parts, almost sixty in
width, and, excepting the northeastern nor
ton, now settled by German colonists is
inhabited by a race of dangerous and
treaeherous cannibals, who are continually
at war among themselves, for there are
many hundred tribes living on the coast as
well as IN the interior. Although there have
been white people living on the northeast
coast for early thirty years-for there were
adventurous American ard English traders
living in this wild island long before the
natives ever saw German-not one of them
knew then, knows now, much of the
strange black tribes who dwell in the in
terror of the center and western part of the
island, save that they were then, as they
are in this present year. always at deadly
enmity with the coats tribes and are. like
them. great cannibals.
sixty miles from the western end of the
island is the mountainous land of German
New Guinea; and sometimes, when TIE air
Is clear and the southeast trade wind blows
the saNages on Berara can see across the
deep, wide strait the gray loom of the
mighty towering range that fringes the
hundred miles Once indeed, when the writ
er of this true story lived in New Britain,
he saw this sight for a whole week, for
there in those beautiful islands the air is
very clear at certain seasons of the year.
From Matupi, where the principal settle
ment in New Britain is situated, to the
deep bay at Kabaira, fifty miles away, the
coast is very beautiful. And, indeed, no one
who looks at the lovely grassy downs that
here and there show through the groves of
waving palm trees stretching from the
beach away up to the rising land of the
interior could think that such a fair coun-
try was the home of a deadly fever; and
that in the waters of the bright limpid
streams running gently down from the COW
ert-clad hills to meet the blue waters of
the Pacific there lurked disease and death
to him who drank thereof.
At the time of my story Except for the
adventurous American whalemen from
Nantucket and Salem, and the sandal-wood
cutters from New South Wales, who some
times touched here) white men were un-
known to the people Of New Britain.
Sometimes, when the sperm-whaling
fleet was cruising northwards and
westward to the Mcluccas. a ship
would sail along the coast in the daytime,
but always anchored at night. for it was
dreaded for the many dangerous reefs that
surround it. And once the anchor was
down a strict watch was kept on board
for the natives were known to be fierce
and treacherous. Between Matupi, where
Is now the German settlement, and the
great native town at Kabaira bay, there
is an island called Mano. which lies five
miles off from the mainland.
Fairly ono Ynorpipp utban tho wild rao-
pie of the villages among the palm groves
which lined the long winding beach, came
out of their thatched huts for their morn
ing battle, they gave a great cry; for a
large full-rigged ship was standing in close
under the lee of Mano, and Chewing up her
sails before she came to anchor
Now the natives who lived on the MAIN
land of New Britain We're the hereditary
enemies of those who dwelt on Mano island.
and it was hateful for them to see a ship
anchor there. for then the Mano islanders
would get axes and muskets and hoop
iron. So, with Baringa, the chief, at their
head they all ran to the summit of a high,
grassy hill Cknown by reason of a terrible
deed once done there in the olden times as
the Hill of Many Groans), and sat down to
watch if the ship would send her boats
ashort.
Look" said Baringa, fierceiy, striking
the ground with his heavy jade-headed club,
look, 1 see a boat putting out from the
side. Who among We will come with me to
the ship, so that L may sell my turtle shell
and pearl shell to the captain for muskets
and powder and bullets. Are these dogs of
Mano to get such things from the ship,
and then come over here at night and STAY
and then cook us in their ovens? Hungry
I To-
since they stole my son from me, and not
one life have had in return for his
But no one answered. OF what use was
it, they thought, for Baringa to think of
his little son? He was but a boy after all.
and had long since gone down the throats
of the men of Mano. Besides. the Mano
people were very strong and already had
many guns.
So for an hour Bdringa sat and chafed
and watched and then suddenly he. and
those with him sprang up, for a sound like
thunder came over to them and cloud Of
white amoke curled up from the ships side;
she had fired one of her big guns. Pres
entity Baringa and his people saw that the
boat which had gone ashore was pulling
back fast, and that some of the crew who
were sitting in the stern were firing their
muskets at the Mano people, who were pur-
suing the boat in six canoes. Twice again
the ship fired a big gun, and then the boat
was safe, for the two twenty-four Founders,
loaded with grapeshot, smashed two of them
TO pieces when they we're less than hum
dred yards from the ship.
Baringa shouted with savage joy. Come,
he cried lets us hasten to the beach, and
get quickly to the ship in our canoes; for
now that the white men have fought with
these Mano dogs, the ship will come here
to us and anchor: for l, Baringa, am known
10 many white men,"
The name of the ship was the "Boadicea.
She was of about 700 tons. and was bound to
China from Port Jackson, but for four
months had remained among the islands of
the New Hebrides group, where the crew
had been cutting sandal-wood, which in
those days was very plentiful there. Her
captain, who was a very skillful navigator.
instead of going through Torres straits. had
sailed between New Ireland and New Brit
ain, so that he might learn the truth OF
some tales he had heard about the richness
of those islands in sandalwood and pearl
shell. SO he had cruised slowly along till he
sighted Marc island, and here he decided
TO water the ship, for from the deck was
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