Some Notes on Recent Exploration in British Author(s): Coutts Trotter Source: Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography, New Monthly Series, Vol. 14, No. 11 (Nov., 1892), pp. 788-796 Published by: Wiley on behalf of The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1801527 . Accessed: 16/06/2014 19:58

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Some Notes on Recent Exploration in British New Guinea.*

By Cotjtts Trotter, Esq.

It has been suggested to me, in view of the great importanceof the region, politically arid geographically,both to Australia and to ourselves,that I should put beforeyou?not for the firsttime, or, I am afraid,even forthe second?a few notes on what has recentlybeen done by us in British New Guinea; and although the last two years have produced no extensive geographical discoveriesthere, the informationgained during journeys undertakenprimarily for administrativepur- poses is by no means devoid of interest. How much remains to be done is evident fromthe mere factthat even along coasts previouslyvisited many useful,and some first-class,harbours have been discovered. Of course an indentedcoast, with its indentationsthemselves protected by an outlying barrier of reef islands, affords harboursof exceptional security. Among such may be mentioned a splendid and absolutely land-locked harbourin Duan (Normanby), one of the largest of the d'Entrecasteaux group,3 to 4 miles in diameter,the entrance of which had been quite concealedby a large island lying across its mouth,only leaving a passage into the harbour100 yards in width. The remarkableharbour of Losoa Doudou, on the west of OrangerieBay, about 2 miles by 1 mile, surroundedby wooded limestone hills, is completelysheltered in all weathers, and is perhaps the finest in the Possession. The inhabitants in the neighbourhood,and towards Milne Bay, formerlyso threateningand warlike, are noAVpeaceful and friendly,so that this harbour has now been thoroughlysurveyed. The northerncoast, however, from the German frontierdown wards as far as Collingwood Bay, is perhaps the quarter most highly favoured in this respect. It is a very picturesque region, and its elevated promontoriesare the home of a numerousand healthy population. Thus, althoughmuch of the soil, e.g., towards Mitre Rock and the Avestward,is poor and rocky,and again about Dyke Acland Bay low and swampy,so that the agricultural value of the districtis doubtful,it may offerfavourable openings to trade. A closerexamination of this regionseems for the firsttime to throwsome light on the question of volcanic activity in New Guinea. This has hitherto been thoughtto be confinedto islands on a line runningparallel with the northerncoasts; but on a recent occasion columns of steam were distinctlyseen risingfrom two of the crestsof Mount Victory,as well as fromcrevices and hollows in the surrounding ridges. The sides of the mountain are scored with brown lines, which Sir W. Macgregorthinks attributablenot to lava streams,but to landslips,and connected with the earthquakes prevalentin the neighbourhood. It must he noted, however, that no flameswere seen, that the natives in the immediatevicinity could give no informationon the subject,and that the point fromwhich the above phenomena were observedwas cstimatedto be quite 12 or 15 miles distant. It may be rememberedthat the only large area of comparativelylevel high lands as yet observed in the British territorywas viewed in this directionby the party which ascended Mount Owen Stanley, and it was accordinglyhoped that these tablelands might be accessible by means of some river-coursesdebouching in Collingwood or Holnicote Bay. No such river mouths,however, were noticed by the recentsurvey, though it is not impossible that such may still be foundamong the mangrove swamps. Surveying on such coasts is a less simple matter than

* Paper read at the Edinburghmeeting of the BritishAssociation, August, 1892.

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.109 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 19:58:05 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions SOME NOTES ON RECENT EXPLORATIONIN BRITISH NEW GUINEA. 789 might be supposed,and the difficultyis often increased by the great shallowness of the water formany miles fromthe shore,a circumstancewhich sometimesmakes it impossiblefor even the smallest boats to go in forfresh water. An expedition which started from Phillips Harbour, in Collingwood Bay, to attempt the ascent of Mount Suckling, after covering a distance direct of some 25 miles, at firstthrough swamps and afterwardsthrough thick forestwith a fair soil, reached an altitude of nearly 8000 feet on one of the spurs of this mountain, from whence a wide tract of rough and comparativelytreeless countrysloped up towards higher inland peaks. Above 6000 feet heavy rain occurredevery night. " " This was in the month of July. The Hornby Range of the charts was seen not to be an independentrange, but merelythe spurs of this centralchain. The very importantquestion, with a direct practical bearing on the future development of the country by resident Europeans, viz., whether among the inner ranges there exist any considerable tracts of tableland with a certain elevation,seems, therefore,as far fromsolution as ever, and it may not be unworthy the considerationof geographerswhether an efficientexpedition could be sent out to settlethis question. The south coast beyond our western frontierhas been visited; the country for the first 40 miles is an uninhabitable mangrove swamp; beyond that it improves,coco palms begin to alternatewith mangroves,and population is found. Here is probablythe home of the mysteriouspiratical Tugeri, a curiousdescription of whom has recentlyappeared, by a self-appointedmissionary named Montagu,who asserts that he has persuaded them to renounce their evil ways, and that our westerndistricts, hitherto periodically ravaged by them, are, therefore,now safe. But it may be prematureto accept all this. Some addition has been made towards our knowledge of the great delta of the Fly Eiver. A large stream,the Bamo, having a width of 1000 to 1500 yards, and a depth of 1^- to 5 fathoms,enters the estuaryof the Fly fromthe north,and its course was followedupwards for some 50 miles. The banks on both sides were in parts heavily timbered,with, in frequentalternation, large patches of sago palm, and considerabletracts of good cultivable land, liable, however,in parts,no doubt, to inundation. Strangely enough, however, though the population was pretty numerous, there was no sign that this land was ever under cultivation. Probably in this case the main staple of subsistence,besides the chase, is derived from the sago palm, the dependence on which is incidentally a great mark of savagery; forthe tribesin question, being free fromthe laboursof agriculture,can devote their time to raiding and plundering. The population of this district accordingly, though with few exceptions willing to trade, were found by Sir W. Macgregor equally willing to right, and collisions were only avoided by consummate tact and coolness on his part. The only two villages where special difficultywas encountered were those which were fired into and plundered forty-fiveyears ago by Captain Blackwood's ship, as related in Jukes's narrative, the traditionof the event being still freshamong the people. Sir W. Macgregor's experiencehere is only one of the many strikingepisodes with which his reports abound; a greatfleet of canoes coming out to attack him, he manceuvredso that only a fewcould directlyface him, and the rest were preventedby their position from firing. Then, when within a few yards, the hostile leader, either overawed by Sir William's daring, or persuaded by his friendlygestures, and those of a gallant native ally, who stuck by him, suddenly laid aside his beheading knifeand head-carrier,and the less ghastly bow and arrows, sprang ashure, and, arming himselfwith the green branchwhich is their token of friendship,at once turned war into peace. We can imagine the satisfactionwith which Sir William, later

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in the day, purchased fromhis new friendsthe curious implementsintended to be used forhis decapitation. Eastwards fromthe Bamo as far as the Aird River and Cape Blackwood, the coast, which has practically been unvisited since Jukes's time, was carefully examined, and four considerablerivers ascended, the third of these (eastwards), the Turama, for some 80 miles, where it was still tidal, 60 yards across and 2 to 3 fathomsdeep: a dangerousbore, rushing up twice a day froma funnel-shaped inlet at its mouth, is a serious hindrance to navigation. Some inaccuracies in Mr. Bevan's map about the mouth of the Aird River are noted. On the Omati River, west of the Aird estuary, a curious case of contagious hysteria was seen. Several men were paddling a canoe. One of these fell down in convulsions; the others at firsttook no notice, but they gradually succumbed, and soon all but threehad followedhis example. These riversseem to rise in a hilly plateau of disintegratinglimestone, but the district offersfew facilitiesfor planting, and is generally disappointing, for the shallow sea makes the coast difficultof approach,and in the south-east monsoon it would be practically inaccessible,especially to open boats, and on this coast as far as the they do not seem to use sails. The weather during this expedition(in March) was generallyfair during the day, but almost always wet at night. Towards Cape Blackwood a Polynesian or East Papuan element in the place-namesbecomes marked,and the people were careful to explain that they are Tagara-arubi, i.e., apparently,of ancientdescent, and settled,and not as the oberi, or bushman. A hostile reception was very frequent here, attributable,however, sometimes,only to rude animal spirits,and to be overcome by tact and patience; still, firearmshad to be employed more than once. These savages are reported to have most gentle and musical voices. But perhapsthe most interestingpiece of recent explorationdeals with the last remainingunknown group of islands in the dependencyof any importance,viz., the Trobriands,named after one of d'Entrecasteaux's commandersin 1793, the group being known,however, to the natives by the name of the principal island, . The group is of much greater extent and importancethan has been supposed. It consists of about a dozen islands, of which two large and four or five smaller are inhabited, the population being estimated as certainlynot less than 15,000. They are Papuan in style and language, but tincturedby Polynesian influences; and, as often happens with the population of the outlying islands, are farbeyond their neighbourson the mainland in intelligence; a circumstancedue perhaps to an admixtureof Malay or other foreignelements in the blood, or to an abundance of animal food. They are keen traders,and as such easily impressed with the advantages of peace. Many of them carried spears, but they declared that these were forsale, and that they were not in the habit of fighting. They are " great smokers; and, as one of the chiefsobserved, If we were always fighting,how " could we buy tobacco? They show considerableartistic taste in the carving of theirspears, shields, and various utensils,out of ebony and otherhard woods. Bows and arrows, and the slings so common in the neighbouringGoodenough Island, seem unknown to them. Their houses, though small?usually some 8 to 10 feet by 6 feet,and 7 to 8 feet high, with a verandah,and a roof extendingbeyond the walls?are oval, and very substantially built, the walls being formed.of posts laid horizontallyon each other. The fact that the tribes all speak one language makes greatlyin favourof peace. The language has affinitieswith that of Murua (Woodlark), and even the more distantFiji, on one side, and with that of Matupi (in New Biitain) on the other. The Governorwas received everywherewith greatpoliteness, and the principal chief conducted him all over his quarters,which

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.109 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 19:58:05 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions SOME NOTES ON RECENT EXPLORATIONIN BRITISH NEW GUINEA. 791 included seventeen houses, each occupied by a separate wife, and most of these were to be seen sitting at their doors as he passed. At a little distancewas the humblerestablishment of the second chief,with the more modest allowance of five wives. Many of these ladies were old and far fromprepossessing, but it seems that either frominnate courtesy,or some more prudential reason, the Papuan always treats his older wives wTithmore considerationthan the younger. The people are all clothed, the women, in fact, possessing two petticoats,the one undyed, the second, used fordancing and otherformal occasions, dyed, and worn over the other; and they made a point of never cominginto the Governor'spresence without this. The islands are mostlyof raised coral, the soil near the shore,consisting partly of vegetable mould, being the richest and deepest, and carrying often very fine timber. Furtherinland it is lighter,and only partiallycovers the coral rock; but this is the favouriteplanting-ground, and where the fragmentsof rock are collected in heaps, the interveningsoil producesvery finecrops of yams, and maize, which is much grown here. It is to the eastwardof the main island, and between this and the large island of Murua, about 150 miles distant, that some islands of very interestingform occur, which appear to be raised atolls. From a sloping beach which surroundsthe island (but which in some instances is washed away) rise precipitouscliffs 300 to 400 feethigh, supportinga plateau which is cup-shaped,or depressed some 50 to 100 feetbelow the summits of the surroundingcliffs. It is thus entirely sheltered fromthe winds, and contains the numerous villages and homes of the islanders,which are all invisible from the outside, so that a passing vessel might suppose the island to be uninhabited. But this inhabited area is very fertile,for the rainfall is considerable,and filtersaway through the coral cliffs,so that freshwater is obtainable below by digging in the surroundingbeach. The prosperous inhabitants,though living entirely on the plateau, also keep fishing vessels on the shore. At , the largestof these islands, and some 6 miles in circumference,Sir W. Macgregorwas so hospitably received that his path was at timesalmost blocked by the offeringsof food,mats, etc, whichwere laid beforehim. A furtherinvestigation of the characters of the rock, both in the cliffs,and, if possible,in the base from which they spring,and of otherfeatures of these islands, is highly desirable. Whatever bearing this might have on the question of the formationof atolls generally,we seem at all events to have here an extension west? wards of the area of elevation which includes the Solomon Islands, and which is dealt with so ably by Dr. Guppy in his descriptionof that region. The experimentnow being made of introducingthe firstprinciples of law, order, and culture among a congeriesof tribes,many of them absolutelysavage, is full of interest,for the conditionsare in many respects unprecedented. Philanthropistsno doubt have beforenow tried their hands on barbarous races, but philanthropyhas not oftenbeen backed by so much sound sense, combined with practical experience of the races to be dealt with. On the otherhand, philanthropy,if at all disposed to run riot here, is checked by the urgentdesirability of making both ends meet,and thus satisfyingsome natural,if slightlyimpatient, criticism. Bearing in mind the slender proportionof means to the end?a ruler with very limited revenues,and only a handfulof Englishmen underhim?(I say Englishmen,but the guidino-spirit is, at all events, a Scotchman),on the one part,and on the other a population of isolated tribes roughly calculated at 350,000 in number,inhabiting- a singularly difficult country as large as Great Britain,* the progress already made is remarkable.

* The area of British New Guinea is about 86,000English square miles; of the whole island about 306,000square miles.

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One great difficultyin administeringthe countrylies in the state of isolation and mutual hostilityof these numeroustribes, and in the factof their each speaking a differentlanguage. On the otherhand, this greatlydiminishes the risk of a native war on any larse scale. It has oftenbeen stated that a differenttribe with a new language is to be found at intervalsof every fewmiles ; thereare, however,many exceptions to this. The Koiari language, forinstance, is spoken over some 200 to 300 square miles, in the countryabout the Laroki Valle}7,and thence westwardas far as the Goldie River. In all the islands of the Trobriand group, again, one language is spoken,and a closely allied tongue in Murua, some 150 miles distant, The Motu language,adopted forgeneral use at one time by the missionariesat Port Moresb3T,has also a considerablerange of notless than 300 miles,while over extended coast tracts,as fromCloudy Bay eastward to Losoa harbour?some 60 miles as the crow flies,and much furtherby the coast-line?and in the adjacent islands, and again betweenMowatta and the Maikussa River, in the Papuan Gulf,the people ali usually understandeach other. Another great hindrance is the absence, as a rule, of any person in authority throughwhom a tribe can be treatedwith. It may abstractedlybe desirablethat we should be all masses and no classes. But it may be inconvenient,and in the Pacific Islands, at all events,the absence of degreesof rank in any tribe indicatesa very low stage of development,and is characteristicof the savage Papuan as comparedwith the refinedand relativelycivilised Polynesian. Accordingly,in the exceptional instancesin this Papuan regionwhere men of weight and influence&ro found,there are usually signs, both in physical type,and language,and manners, of an admixtureof the more cultured race. Sometimes the chiefis so by rightof birth. Sometimes he is simply the strong man. In the Trobriandshe is usually thefatttst man; and theremay be soniethingto be said for this, forat any rate it shows that he is a man of substance,and that his foodagrees with him; or, in more scientificterminology, is in harmonywith its environment. It may be mentioned here that obesityis very rare among these people. Contraryto what oftenobtains among savages, the Papuan women,though they wTorkhard, enjoy great freedom and influence. It is remaiked,indeed, that in the tribeswith Polynesianaffinities they have less to say. But perhapsthey only say it more quietly. A peculiar difficultyhas of late arisen in the fact that, while the coast tribes are comparativelyaccessible to us, their neighboursbeyond them are not so. The former,as a rule,have not been slow to perceiveour intentions,and to appreciate the establishment of a Pax Britannica. Some, indeed, of the more powerfulamong them,not understanding our strength,determined to tryconclusions with us; but being unsuccessful,and findingthemselves neverthelesstreated with lenity,cordialiy gave in, and are now among our best supporters. But mildnessis everywherecombined with firmness. If a tribe defles us, and tries to excite its neighboursagainst us, the village is as soon as possible visited in force,and as the inhabitantsusually rly,their prestige is broken once for all. At the worst,if they have committedactual violence the houses are entered,their arms collected,and burned in the village square, but no houses are burned,or mischiefdone. On one occasion a chief having taken up a bellicose attitudc,the leader of the little party of native constabularyborrowed his shield,and hanging it up, made his men firea volley at it. The resultwas that valour was swayed by discretion,and peace at once offeredand accepted. This seems a small matter,but it is typical of the- regimefollowed throughout. The. lesser tribes,who had long sufferedfrom the exactionsand violenceof their more powerfulneighbours (which heremeans being occasionally killed and eaten, as well as systematicallyplundered), have naturallyappreciated the new positionmoie-

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.109 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 19:58:05 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions SOME NOTES ON RECENT EXPLORATIONIN BRITISH NEW GUINEA. 793 readily. But now the difficultyarises. They have under our influencedisarmed, and have even voluntarilypulled dowTnthe stockades of theirvillages, and thereby laid themselves open to attack by their inland neighbours,against whom it is as yet very difficultior us to protect them. And these inland tribes,who in some instances are coast tribes who have been dispossessed and driveninland by more powerfulneighbours, seem oftento be desperate savages. Even they,however, are beginning to send emissaries down to the coast to inquire what this new thing "Government" may mean. One curiousresult of the new regimeis, that sometimesa tribe,after discussing the merits of our protectorate,is unable to agree about it; accordingly,the more conservative,who think things are going too fast,or those for whom oppositionin the abstract has more attraction, remain in the old quarters, while the more advanced partytakes up new land and establishes its penates withineasier reach of our strongarm. There are other strikingsigns of the new order of things. Villages formerly built forsafety upon piles over the w^aterare now being rebuilton dry land, and the new houses are far more substantial. Additional land is taken into cultivation,or coconutsplanted forsale, in the faiththat the sower will reap his fruitsin security. Over great tracts of coast, and for some way inland, the people who invariably carriedarms now appear without them; and whereas they never crossedtheir own marchesin peace, they now visit freely,and pass the nightamong those who, three years ago, were theirdeadly enemies. As regards the administrationof the law, there has naturally been much difficultyin explainingthat a crime will only be visited on the individualcriminal, and not, according to native usage, on the village or tribe. But now, when it is made evidentto the offender'stribe that they will not be molestedif he is given up, they generally cease to shelter him; though sometimes when he is taken his relations beg to be allowed to accompany him, thereby showing at once their confidencein the white rnan's justice, and their own strong family affection. Indeed, even when tribesmenhave been arrested and taken away as hostages for the deliveryof a murderer,they have understoodthe proceeding; and thoughthe familyof a murderedman would preferto possess themselvesof a few heads from the other side rather than merelywitness the murderer'sexecution, they learn to acquiesce in our tamer arrangements. Crime of course must be dealt with, even when arising simply out of native custom or belief. Thus, a tribe on Kiwai Island, the Sumai, pay a visit to their neighboursthe Domori. Soon after their returnhome a Sumai man dies. It is put down to witchcraft,and a partyreturns to Domori to avenge him. The Domori chief comes forward,asserts innocence,points, moreover, to his shirtas proofof his " conneetionwith Government." The Sumai for answer bends his bow, and, ex- pressingcontempt for the Government,sends his arrowright through both shirtand wearer(a common feat among these Strongbows!). But by-and-bythe Governor appears on the scene in force. The culpritsare overawed,and decline to fight; but the Governor says it is necessaryto do so to prove which is the stronger,and that he is ready to begin at once. Then the offenderscollapse, the native missionary who had tried to dissuade them fromviolence is promotedto honour,and a church and school built in atonement. Fortune does not favour the Kiwai people. They are hard-working,intelligent, and well-behaved,but their land, besides being limited in extent, is little better than a swamp, and the sea is encroachingon it. The changes.above describedare observablenot merelyat comparativelyfamiliar places on the south coast, but in the d'Entrecasteaux Islands, so much more

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recentlybrought within the sphereof our activity,and hithertoexceptionally savage. At Duan (Normanby Island), cultivationis rapidly increasing,the drawbackof the great steepnessof the hill-slopesbeing counterbalancedby the valuable heavy rain? fall. The islandis now frequentedby large tradingcanoes in searchof foodsupplies, and all unarmed,a thing hitherto unknown. Again, over long tracts of coast shipwreckedsailors can even now count on meeting with help and protection. But perhaps the most remarkableproof of advance has been the successfultraining in police duties of men who, three years ago, were absolute savages. It is even expectedthat boys now at school who show exceptional abilities may be employed' in office-work. As mightbe expected,we findvery different qualities among theseisolated tribes. Some are bolder and fiercerthan others,or more treacherous. In this last quality, combinedwith cowardice,some of the Louisiade islandershave a bad pre-eminence, though some of the islands show bright exceptions. But all at firstshow timidity and mistrust,startled like wild animals by a sudden movement,and dispersing almost beyond recall by the strikingof a lucifermatch or the sight of a mirror; and naturallyenough all this is intensifiedat spots known to have been the scene of kidnapping atrocities. But who can blame their timidity? if,indeed, it can be so called. Could greater daring possibly be exhibited than that of a native who, encounteringa steamboat for the firsttime, paddles up to the pufflng,smoking monster,and ventureson board ? But here a grave question arises. This beneficentbut rapid introductionof civilisation,of peace and order,entailing an equally sudden retnovalof the health- giving stimuli of fightingand raiding,as well as of responsibilityand independent action?will the race be able to stand the shock of such a revolutionin all its ideas and ways ? It will no doubt be improved. Will it not be improvedoff the face of the earth? Our experienceselsewhere do not enable us to give so clear an answer to this questionas we could wish. As in character,so also in habits and customs,there are greatdifferences. Most of themare fondof tobacco,but some are ignorantof it, or indifferent.At very few places has the use of kava as a beveragebeen noticed,and the elaborate ceremonial which accompaniesthe practicein the PacificIslands is here altogetherabsent. As regards arms, the spear and shield in one place, the bow and arrowin another,are in exclusive use, and it has been noticedthat the tribeswhich are armed with bow and arrowdo notcarry a shield,but only a stick,with which they professto ward off arrowsor spears. There are still some places where iron is unknown,and whereits advantages,as comparedwith the native implementsof basalt or jade, are by no means readily perceivedor admitted. They will sometimesexchange these fora fewbeads, but not forsteel hatchets. Jade has as yet onlybeen observedat Cloudy Bay on the south coast, and in the immediatelyopposite districtson the northcoast about the head of Collingwood Bay, and in Holnicote Bay, where it begins to be replaced by basalt, fromwhich it is argued that it is found(as indeed the natives report)in the interveningranges known as MountSuckling. It is remarkablytough, the tools taking a veryfine edge, which is not readilychipped or splintered. It appears to be mineralogicallyalmost identicalwith the jade of New Zealand, containingperhaps some proportionof serpentine,with a somewhathigher specific gravity due to the presenceof iron. Among other quaint customs not hithertoobserved was that of a deputation which came to intercedefor a criminal,and was preceded by a man carryinga bamboo plant,to the brokenbranches of whichwere attached the plurnesof birds-of- paradise,and pieces of ornamentalfeather-work. Sir W. Macgregor speaks of the two main characteristicsof the race as

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covetousness,and absence of religiousfeeling. As regardsthis last charge,it is one so frequentlybrought against savages that only his great experiencewould lead us to attach much weight to it in this instance. The Papuan in Eastern New Guinea, however,warmly welcomes the missionary. But the welcome is no doubtquite un- connectedwith any spiritualaspirations, and he probablyassociates the missionary with improved opportunitiesfor trade or peaceful plunder,or at best with greater generalsecurity. His greedinessand desirefor gain, so differentfrom the easy-going communismof Polynesia, may, it is to be hoped, stimulate him to plant and trade, and therebytend to developthe resources of the country,and to bringabout that much- desired end, a budget equilibrium. We ought not to despair of this, remembering the considerableamount of trade intercoursethat existed beforeour conneetionwith New Guinea, the fleets of great canoes, several sailing bound together,trafficking the sago of one districtfor the potteryand artistic ornamentsand implementsof another. Certain villages or islands, too, have long been famous as boat-builders, and purchasers resort to them fromlong distances. Indeed, the amount of such intercourse,and still more,the specialisationof produceof certaindistricts, may well u " " modify our usual conception of savage life. But the question, What is a savage ?" is not one to be answeredoff hand. It is interestingto note here, as showing the transitionalstate of affairs,that while the canoe-builders,e.g., at Pannaet, in the Louisiades, workwith adzes made of hoop-iron,the paymentfor theirwork is made in stone axes, ten to fiftyof these being the price of a canoe. The stone axe is still the accepted medium of exchange in large transactions?pigs,for instance, and wives, are valued in that currency. It is only fair,by the way, to mention that the purchase of a wife is stated by the natives not to be such in the ordinarysense; the articles paid are, they say, a presentto the girl's father. In Mowatta, sistersare specially valued, as theycan be interchangedwith othermen's sistersas wives. But how soon this desirable equilibrium in the financeswill be attained is far fromclear. There is probablymuch in the economic condition of thingswhich is hardly yet understood. Thus, in some parts,as in the elevated coast tractstowards the German frontier,and more especially in Moratau and some neighbouring islands, the populationseems to be even too dense, while elsewherelarge level tracts near the coast, or in the deltas of rivers,seem?why, is not evident,even if they are flooded at certain seasons?unoccupied. Many of the smaller islands,e.g., in the d'Entrecasteaux and Trobriandgroups, though evidently capable of cultivation, are unoccupied. These, when found,have been declared Crown property,so that they may be leased, or developed by the Government,as occasion may dictate. There is still room fora great amount of coconut planting,which yields a sure return,and it is even suggestedto make the plantingyearly of a certainnumber of nuts compulsoryon a village. It is always hoped, too, that new staples may be discovered. The prominenceof treesof the Ficus order,and of the Sapotacece,make it not improbable that india-rubberand gutta-percha,respectively, may be forth- coming. The large number of fibre-producingorders again?Hibiscus, Tiliacece, Urticacece,Pandanus, and others?point to theexistence of valuable fibres. A curious possible item of export was discovered in the island of Eoua (Eossel), in the Louisiades. Here, in one of the least advanced tribes in the Possession,it was observedthat every man carried about him a piece of sponge for the purposeof washing his face !?and these sponges,found in the adjacent sea, are of remarkably finequality. There remainsalways a possibilityof the discoveryof a rich goldfield, but the miners, who have now been steadily at work for some years in the Louisiade Islands, do not seem to make more than a bare living. The excellent terms on which they live with the natives are very creditable to both parties. In

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Moratau () the confidencenow establishedwill make it possible to work the depositsof sulphurand alum discoveredthere. The administrator is anxious to encouragethe bondfide settlement of white men, plantersand others,though he does not feeljustified in alienatinglarge tractsof land, partlybecause it is still doubtfulhow far any such exist which are not in partial use by the native population,and also because the purchase of such tractsfrom the natives, howeverfairly, and with whateverprecautions, might lead to collisionsand disturbanceswhich he is without the means to deal with,and which would entail expenses which those on whom he is financiallydependent would be most unlikely to sanction. It appears to me that there is every reason to be satisfiedwith the lines on which he has chosen to work this?as I have called it?most interestingexperiment, and with the skill he has shown in conductingit. Certainlywe are doing at least as well as either of the other joint occupiers of New Guinea, the Dutch and the Germans; for the attempt of the latter to work their territoryon commercial principles can certainly not as yet be called a success; while the Dutch, with unlimited sources on which to draw for labour, and abundant experience,have, afterlong years of possession,done nothingat all.* Obviously,for such a work as Sir W. Macgregoris doing, time is wanted,and patience. It is a very noble work, and must have the sympathyof all those among us who retain the instinctsof an imperialrace.

GEOGKAPHICAL NOTES.

The New Session.?Attention is drawn to the programme of the new ' Session, which is inserted in the present number of the Proceedings/ Any additions or modifications will be intimated under the head of " ' Notices to Fellows," on the cover of future numbers of the Proceedings.'

Death of Karl von Spruner.?Only a few months after the death of Dr. Theodor Menke, to whom we owe the third edition of Spruner's 4 Historical Atlas,' we have to record the death of the author of this great work, Dr. Karl Spruner von Merz, General of the Bavarian Infantry, who died on August 24th, at the age of 89. He entered the army in 1825, the General Staflin 1857, and in 1864 became Lieutenant-General, and the King of Bavaria's Adjutant-General. His conneetion with Perthes' Geographical Institute dates from the beginning of the thirties, and he was thus a contemporary of Adolf Stieler and Heinrich Berghaus. ' The publication of his 'Historisch Geographischer Hand Atlas was commenced in 1637, and completed in 1852. The two principles hekept constantly before him in the execution of this great work were, that a good historical map should show for the period to which it refers just what we expect a good geographical map to show for the present day, and further, that the compiler of an historical atlas has as much need to

* We must always rememberthe object with which this territorywas annexed. It was withno thoughtof making nioney,but merelywith the view of preventingthe commandof TorresStraits from falling into otherhands.

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