Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-09
ToWnIH. cRAaNRN, nTC.

explorations. Laid down upon the real
map of New Guinea it is clear that he
must have crossed the great island and
nave kept on into the open sea for 800
miles or SO.
The value of the work is indeed condi-
toned by the fact that Captain J. A. Law
son never wandered in the interior OF New
Guinea, never was in New Guine by so
much as a foot upon the black shore.
Yet the work Is of the most lively inter-
est, it is crammed with interest, its pages
are replete with such observations as a
trained explorer would be expected to
record. The human interest is not absent,
we follow the traveller through monstrous
difficulties, we become familiar with his
native companions, the detail of camp
and company is set forth overwhelmingly.
Captain Lawson also selected his com
panions with a view to future possibilities,
and before he is lone with them they are
al! disposed of In a way very satisfactory
to such exploration. Toolo was a Lascar
who had been the captains servant for two
years. The Australian black fellows were
engaged as bearers-Tom, Joe and Billy;
but Tom ran away before they set out
from Sydney. At Houtree he selected his
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grounded as linguists. for they used Eng
fish, French, Dutch and Portuguese and
Mslayan dialects. Aboo was the elder OF
these. about 80, only four feet three inches
in stature, repulsive in ugliness by nature,
heightened by art. Danang was only 20, a
foot taller han Aboo, very strong and cor
r~espondingly lazy, Up in the interior the
sun proves tao much for Toolo, he goes
mad and blows the top OF his head off with
the captains rifle. Joe, the Australian
and Danang, the younger Papuan, are
killed by hostile natives at the explorer
farthest north. Aboo is left at Houtree OF
the return and Billy is a scamp, but the
author starts him away from Singapore IL
the direction Of sydney.
II is not to be supposed that Captain
lawson thus disposes Of his evidence a
the beginning. On the contrary this re
cord has been picked out from the nara
tive and assembled as herein set forth
In the book itself II is far more artfull,
dealt with. Il is not until the end Of th'
seventh chapter hat Toolo is marked To-
suicide. Tucked away in the last pagei
OF the eighth chapter Is the wiplng on
of Danang and Joe. Aboo vanishes without
any warning sign when Houtree is neaI
on the return journey; exactly what doe
become Of him is not made clear. Billy
th4 Australian, aboriginal survivor, per
sisted as far as Banda in the Malay Archl
pelago, where his master fell III. Bette
for Bnly's reputation, assuming that h
had any reputation at all, IL he had re
moved himself earlier. For the explore
gave him a black mark there In Banda
almost the last words in the book: 'bu
Billy never once came near me, and
heard that he was almost constantly in
state OF beastly intoxication." A sad rec
ord after they had stuck together thToug
so many moving adventures. The last rec
ord Of poor Billy. set aboard a ship 1
Singapore for sydney, is this: Il got ri
OF him at last"
Now recur 10 the start.
Although Houtree Is determined by Il
precision OF minutes. and above all thos
discriminating seconds. to be away out q
sea. THE explorer set forth from Houtre