The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-16
SAYAGES OF A VIRILE TYPE.
II. II. MAGCIRE TELLS. or THE
NATIVES or NEW GUINEA.
Eternal Vigilance Required Of the White
Man Among Them-ThOuGh Treach.
erOus, They Have Fine Qualities
Natural Wealth OF the Island

number Of dredging claims in the gold-min-
ing regions Of the extreme northwestern
part Of British New Guinea. This region
was very little known, and Mr.. Mcguire
was told that the natives there were not
| to be- relied upon and that he must look out
for treachery.
| He spent fourteen months among these
natives carrying out the important work
| intrusted 10 him. In January last he re-
| turned to Aust ralia, and he has given to the
Geographical Society at Brisbane some
facts with regard to his dealings with
the natives and also his impression OF this
| little-known land.
He says that the inland tribes Of this
part Of British New Guinea are perhaps
the most virile natives In the protectorate.
He thinks the men on the Gira River are the
finest specimens to he found on the southern
part of the island.
Their villages are very large and have
extensive gardens around them. Stock
AIDES of spears are planted around many
villages to prevent them from sudden
| attack.
| Mr.. Mcguire had much to do with these
natives, for in surveying dredging claims
along the Glra he came daily into close
|
along the banks. He wac advised before
hand TO be very careful in dealing with
these men, for they we're warike and not
to be trusted too far. He was therefore
always on his guard and had no serious
trouble.
The first thing he observed was that they
invariably kept their women and children
in the background, a sure sign that they
| friapllx ha
TO be by their lavish offers TO trade taro.
bananas. sago. sugar cane and betel nut for
tobacco, paper and calico. Mr.. Mcguire
says that a traveller or explorer in New
Guinea may be sure, if the natives bring
their womcn and children forward and
allow them &c mingle freely with the new
coiners. that no hostility is intended. at
least for a time.
But when the women and children are
| ordered to retire or they drift away one
by one without any apparent purpose.
it is time to be very watchful. 1t does
not do on such occasions to permit any
OF the warriors TO get too close to- the
traveller with a spear in his hand.
Mr.. Mcguire made il an invariable rule
never to permit native who had spear or
other native weapon in his hand TO APP
proach nearer than $50 feet. II the native
persisted in approaching after being warned
To stop he was instantly threatened with a
| rifle
Ia the opinion Of Mr.. Mcguire no man
! who rgidly observes this rule need have
any fear Of being murdered by the natives,
He had no occasion TO shoot natives, though
it was sometimes necessary 10 threaten
them in order TO keep them at distance
when they had weapons in their hands;
but We can imagine the strain and fatiguing
wa,chfulness imposed upon any one who
finds IT necessary month after month to
keep a constant lookout on every side for
fear that any moment he may be the target
for spear.
| Another rule which he invariably oh
served when he was in strange village
and did not know the natives was never
TO permit them 10 get behind him. II
he wished them TO show him the road he
made them walk IN front of him.
II possible he secured the presence of
the chief Immediately in front of him,
and this man was kind Of hostage The
natives mourn very long over their dead
chiefs, and if they contemplate any
treachery TO the white man they will be
slow in showing hostility If they think
their chief Is likely to suffer any damage
Another rule which he constantly OBJ
served was never TO be without firearms
for an instant. He says there are some
men in New Guinea who are always preach
ing about the docility Of the natives and
the wckedness Of carrying firearms and
yet they ara the first to cry out for ven
gcance when some credulous white men
take such advice and lose their lives by
their foohardy faith in the natives.
IL man chooses to go among a savage
people unarmed and unprotected he should
be prepared TO take all risks; and if he is
killed his friends, instead of bowling for
vengeance upon a race imbued for CEN
turtles with the savage instinct 10 kill,
should profit by his fate and bring their
philanthropc theories into line with the
lessons of common sense and practical
experience.
Mr.. Mcguire says that many hundreds
of Innocent natives have been slaughtered
in New Guinea TO appease the wrath OF
the friends of some murdered white mar
who was foolhardy enough to court dis
aster by not carrying firearms. In most
cases the real murderers escape and the
innocent are made to suffer for the guilty.
He has in many respects IA high opinion
Of the men on the Gira River who, he says
are fine, big, clean skinned fellows, YER,
active and powerful and born fighters
Some of them have finely formed features
and commanding mien, and one has onl,
To stand face to face with the picked mer
among them to realize that he is in the
presence of men Of the highest calibre Sc
far as physical perfection, courage anc
savage nobility are concerned,
They look the stranger fearlessly in thu
face with head and shoulders thrown proud,
back and impress tho white man at one,
as born leaders among their own people.
: He has tender feeling for some Of then
) the expert swimmers, for example, VIII,
, made the most gallant attempts again anc
: again to save his own brother from drowning
in a dangerous rapid. They risked thci
own lives, but, unfortunately. were no
able to save tho man they sought Il
rescue.
Mr.. Mcguire thinks the prospects o