Next morning, at an early hour, the whole community was on foot. The
men came out, and sat themselves down on their platforms, where they
began to smoke very curious pipes, made of a single piece of wood, with
an upright stalk under the bowl, which either rested on the ground or on
their knees. The tube was at right angles with this, and the bowl
shaped like a cup on the top of the stalk, a knot of wood at the outer
end of the tube serving to balance it. The women were seen going along
the beach to the shore, or descending into the small canoes, we
concluded either to fish, or to collect limpets or other molluscs from
the rocks for food. Not knowing exactly what to do, we got up and were
about to follow them, when a shout from Prince Frizzlepate, as we now
called him (for he seemed to be the chief of this delectable community),
reached our ears. He made signs to us that we were to take two of the
canoes and go into the bay to fish, as the women were doing.
"Dat bery good," observed Macco. "Me know how to catch more fish dan
dem."
We found a number of lines, with hooks made of the bones of birds, hung
up in the house. When we offered to take them, Prince Frizzlepate
nodded his permission. Macco also borrowed one of their knives, with
which to cut some shell-fish from the rocks to serve as bait. We had
fortunately not consumed all our sago or fish; and these, hidden in our
pockets, we took with us, for our masters apparently had no intention of
providing us with food. We quickly got the bait, and, guided by Macco--
he being in one of the canoes, and Oliver and I in the other--we paddled
off to a point near where the women were fishing. Soon after we let
down our lines, Macco hauled up a fine fish. He caught double as many
as Oliver and I together.
We naturally talked of the possibility of making our escape in the
canoe; but where to go to was the difficulty. We saw also that we were
observed from the huts, a large canoe being apparently kept ready to
make chase should we attempt to paddle off. After a little time, we ate
the provisions we had brought with us, turning our backs towards the
shore as we did so, for fear our masters might observe it. We were
already beginning to practise some of the arts of slaves. Having caught
a good supply of fish, we paddled back towards the shore.
"I vote we land on the beach, instead of going back to those dirty
huts," I observed. And Oliver agreed with me. Macco, however, seemed
rather doubtful that we should bring down on our heads the displeasure
of our masters. The women had landed some time before. Either the men
were sleeping, or they did not think it worth while to call us, and,
reaching the beach, we landed and hauled up our canoes.
Oliver proposed that we should light a fire and cook some of our fish.
A flame was soon produced by Macco, in his usual way, with two pieces of
bamboo; and we soon had our fish cooking before it. Having finished our
meal, we walked a little way into the country. We had not gone far when
we observed a small hut, raised from the ground, somewhat like those on
the beach. Near it, leaning on a bank, we saw a woman who appeared very
like the kind person who had brought us our provisions on the previous
evening. She was stooping forward, with a small branch in her hand. On
getting nearer, we saw that she was playing with a little child, who was
seated in a large bivalve shell full of water. It made a magnificent
bath for the little black fellow, and it was larger even than the shells
we had found on our island, a magnificent, specimen of the _Tridacna
gigas_. The woman was younger and far pleasanter-looking than most of
the women in the huts.
"Yes, I am sure it is her," said Oliver, when we approached. She seemed
somewhat startled at seeing us, and instinctively lifted her little boy
out of the bath, and held him, dripping as he was, in her arms. That
did not signify, however, as she was clothed in very scanty garments.
We stopped short, not further to alarm her; and then, recovering
herself, she signed to us that we might come nearer. She pointed to the
huts on the beach, and seemed to intimate that we had better go back,
lest the chief should be angry at our wandering about the shore without
his leave. She then patted us on our heads, which we took to signify
that she wished us well. Of this, indeed, from her previous kind
conduct, we had no doubt.
"We will give her some of our fish," I said. "It will show her that we
are grateful to her for her kindness."
Macco, hearing my proposal, ran back to the boat, and returning with
several fine fish, placed them at her feet. Having done this, we
hurried back to the canoe, and paddled away to the huts. On climbing up
the ladders, we found that the men had been sleeping, which had been the
reason, probably, we had been allowed so much liberty. As we were
bringing the fish up to the platform, the chief awoke, and seemed well
pleased with our success, for he nodded his head, and graciously gave
each of us a fish.
For two or three days we were sent out in the same manner, and each time
Macco was successful. We, however, discussed all sorts of plans for
making our escape; for although we were not especially ill-treated, we
yet could not tell how soon the mood of our savage masters might change.
I was very anxious to see something of the interior. An opportunity
arrived sooner than I had expected. Early one morning, the chief awoke
us, and signified that he wanted us to attend him on shore. It
appeared, that having found us so useful as fishermen, he expected that
we should be equally successful as hunters. Having put bows and arrows
into our hands, he signified that we should attend him. About a dozen
men were collected together, armed also with bows and arrows and spears.
On the ground were several baskets, and just as we were beginning to
march, some of the men lifted them up, and, without asking our leave,
strapped them on over our shoulders--an unmistakable hint that they
expected us to carry them. I, feeling indignant at this proceeding, let
the basket drop; on which the chief, casting an angry glance at me, gave
me a blow across the shoulder with his spear, which made me feel so
faint that I nearly fell to the ground. My companions wisely took the
hint, and, just as they were about to follow my example, re-secured the
baskets. I saw that there was no help for it; so, again lifting up
mine, I followed the party as fast as I could.
"You see, Massa Walter," observed Macco, "dem can make us do what dey
like, so no use cry out. `Grin and bear it,' as Potto Jumbo say to me
bery often."
As we passed through the forest we caught sight of numerous beautiful
birds flying among the trees, and countless numbers of lovely
butterflies flitting to and fro, and beetles crawling over the grass or
climbing the trunks of the trees. "What would not Mr Hooker give to be
here!" I could not help exclaiming.
I was going to put my foot on what I thought a large leaf, when I saw it
suddenly rise and spring forward. A little way on I saw another
creature--for a creature it was--of the same description; and, looking
at it more narrowly, I saw that it was an enormous grasshopper. The
wing covers, which were fully nine inches across, were of a fine green
colour, looking exactly like one of the large shining leaves which hung
from the trees above. The thorax was covered by a large triangular
sheath of a horny nature. Its serrated edges, and a somewhat wavy
hollow surface, with a line down the centre, made it also look very like
a leaf. At a guess, for I could not measure it, I should say that it
was between two and three inches long. The body was short, but the legs
were very long and strongly spined. It did not move very fast, so that
I could examine it easily. Though only at a very short distance, I
could not have distinguished it from the number of fallen leaves among
which it moved. Overhead were numbers of cockatoos, parrots, and other
birds of gay plumage, while now and then we caught sight of a
brush-turkey running along rapidly over the ground. Many of the
butterflies we saw were of magnificent size, and all richly adorned with
the most brilliant colours.
At length the savages stopped under some high trees with wide-spreading
branches, though thinly clothed with leaves. Several of them then
ascended, carrying with them bows, and a number of arrows with round
weighted heads, while each man also carried a large piece of
roughly-formed matting at his side. Ascending the trees, they stretched
out the matting across the branches, just above a convenient fork on
which they took their seats. In a short time, as the sun was tingeing
the lofty tops of the trees, we heard the well-known sound of "Wawk--
wawk--wawk!--Wok--wok--wok!" Soon afterwards we caught sight of a
flight of the most magnificent birds of paradise assembled on the
branches, and immediately they began the curious dance we had before
seen, spreading out their brilliant feathers, which glittered like
masses of gold thread in the sunlight above our heads. The hunters
meantime lay hid under their palm-leaf shelter. Presently, one let fly
an arrow, which stunned a bird, and it fell to the ground. Another and
another arrow was shot, few failing to bring down a bird. The lovely
creatures, unconscious of the fate of their companions, continued their
dance, seeming too much interested in themselves to think of the rest.
At length an arrow whizzed by one of the birds, which it failed to
strike. This seemed to astonish the rest; and, looking about, it
discovered one of the hunters. Immediately, with loud cries, the whole
rose from the tree, and flew away with rapid wings from the spot. The
savages then got down the tree to secure their prizes.
Satisfied with their success, they now took out some food, which they
commenced eating. Macco, as before, in spite of their angry looks,
carried off a small portion for us and himself. As soon as their meal
was hastily concluded, they began cutting off the wings and feet of the
birds. When the skin was taken off the body, a stout stick was run
through it, coming out at the mouth. Round this a number of leaves,
were stuffed, and the skin was then wrapped up in a palm-spathe. I saw
at once how it was that the legend of their having no wings or feet had
arisen. The beautiful flowing plumage appeared to great advantage, but
the body, by this process, was greatly reduced and shortened, and gave a
very erroneous idea of the real shape of the bird. While speaking of
the birds of paradise, I should like to describe the great variety which
exists. Those I have described are very different from the ordinary
bird of paradise, with which ladies were accustomed to ornament their
hats and bonnets. That is a very beautiful little bird, but not to be
compared to the Great Paradise bird, or the Red Paradise bird, or the
King Paradise bird, or, indeed, to several others which I saw brought
from various parts of New Guinea, or from the neighbouring islands. One
of the most curious and beautiful is the Red Paradise bird, which is
said to be only found in the island of Waigiou. In the same island,
another bird, called the Red Magnificent, is found.
The birds having been prepared for travelling, the savages now roused
themselves, and signified to us that we must continue hunting. We kept
close to Macco, knowing that he was more likely to be successful than we
were. We urged him to try and get away from them, that we might be by
ourselves.
"But we get lost; we no find our way back," he answered.
"But I thought you were accustomed to your native forests, and that you
could easily find your way," I observed.
"Dis forest not like my forest," he answered. "I dere know de signs.
Here bery different. I live here one year, two year, and den I find my
way about."
"I thought you could find your way by instinct," I said, "through the
forest."
"Macco not know what 'stinct mean," he answered. "Me know de signs on
de trees, de way de rivers run or de streams run, where de mountains
are, where de sun rise, where de sun set. Den know de way."
However we managed, while our masters started off in one direction, to
take an opposite one; and before long, as we moved cautiously through
the wood, we caught sight of a cuscus. Macco was quickly up a tree, and
soon captured the poor beast. Not long after we came up with a tree
kangaroo, to which we gave chase. We caught him as we had done the
other on our island, and had now two animals to take to our masters. We
hung them by their feet over a bamboo, and carried them along in the
direction we believed would lead to the coast. We had gone some
distance when we began to doubt whether we were going right. The forest
was far too thick to allow us to get a glimpse of the sea, by which we
might have guided our steps. At length, fatigued with carrying our
heavy burden, we stopped to rest. On a piece of fallen timber on which
we sat, I observed some curious flies with slender bodies, and
wonderfully long legs, which raised their bodies high above the surface
on which they stood; but the remarkable thing about them was the large
horns which projected from below their eyes, very nearly as long as the
animals themselves, something in shape like the horns of a stag. Their
eyes were violet and green, and the bodies and legs yellowish brown, and
their horns black. We had been silent for some time, each of us
occupied in his own thoughts, when, looking up, we saw a long snouted
animal approaching slowly and rubbing his nose into the soft ground as
he advanced. "Pig, pig," cried Macco, starting up and giving chase,
spear in hand. The pig, however, was far too quick for him, more active
considerably than the cuscus or the tree kangaroo, and though Macco ran
fast, piggy, who knew the country, ran faster; and in a short time Macco
returned, somewhat crestfallen at his want of success. "If we kill
three animals dey tink we great hunters," he exclaimed. "We look for
another piggy, and try cachy."
We now thought it time to continue our journey. We had not got far,
however, when we heard shouts behind us, and turning round, we saw a
number of black fellows, their countenances expressive of rage, pursuing
us with clubs uplifted. To fly through that jungle would have been
folly, so we stopped and faced the savages. I fully believed from their
gestures that our last moments had arrived. They were within a dozen
yards of us, and in another moment our brains would have been dashed out
on the ground, when a cry was heard coming from one side, and in an
instant afterwards a young woman burst through the thicket, and threw
herself between us and our enemies. We recognised her as the kind
person we had seen bathing her baby in the large shell. She held up a
branch between us and the men, and appeared to be expostulating
earnestly with them. She used much gesture and spoke with vehemence.
Gradually their countenances somewhat calmed, and their clubs, which had
been raised, slowly descended to the ground. As they stood leaning on
them she pointed to the animals we had killed. Macco had been watching
both parties attentively.
"Dey tink we run away. She say no," he observed. "We take dem and give
dem to her."
On this we lifted up the kangaroo and cuscus, which we had placed behind
the trunk of a tree, and exhibited them to the savages, laying them
afterwards at the feet of the young female; I cannot say our fair
friend, for she was almost as dark as a sloe berry. We then lifted them
up again, and inquired of her by signs what we were to do with them.
She told us in the same dumb language that we were to accompany her, and
pointing to the path up which we had come, she bade us go before,
walking herself between us and the men, as if to protect us from them.
We went on and on, and now found from the time we took to reach her hut,
that we must have been going inland instead of towards the village on
the sea-shore. This naturally made the savages suppose we were
attempting to run away.
On arriving at the hut she again addressed the men, who thereon began to
cut up the animals.
They carried away the whole of the cuscus and part of the kangaroo. The
other part we supposed she had claimed as her perquisite. She then made
signs to us that we were to remain. Who she was we could not tell, but
we concluded that she was a chief's daughter, or, at all events, a
person of great influence and probably of rank among them. As soon as
the men had gone, she lighted a fire and cooked the remaining part of
the kangaroo, placing a savoury piece before us on some palm-leaves, to
which she added some well-made cakes of sago, far superior in flavour to
those we had manufactured.
She now signified to us that we were to build a hut for ourselves in
which to pass the night, and took us to a spot where we found an
abundance of bamboos, and the large palm leave? I have before
described. She seemed much amused at our awkwardness in putting up the
building, and quickly set to work to show us the way, so that in a short
time we had a comfortable little hut for a sleeping place.
"I wish we knew her name!" observed Oliver. "I have often read of acts
like these, and of the way in which women have saved the lives of people
as, I am sure, she has done ours. They are the same all the world over.
We have now a proof of it."
We were in hopes that after this we should be employed entirely by the
kind lady, for lady she was in her look and manner, though she had but
few garments and no ornaments.
The next day, however, Prince Frizzlepate made his appearance, and
ordered us to go off fishing. She nodded to us as much as to tell us
that we had better do so, and accordingly we entered the canoes which we
had used before. We had even more than our usual success, and returned
with a number of fine fish. On landing we took up the finest to our
friend.
"I have thought of a name for her," I exclaimed, as we walked along. "I
remember reading of a Princess Serena of some island in the Pacific, and
I doubt if she could have been more amiable than this lady; so I propose
we call her Princess Serena."
Oliver agreed with me. Macco only grinned. Probably he saw nothing
like a princess about her--only a kind-hearted girl, who had taken
compassion on three unfortunate strangers.
We presented our fish in due form to the princess, and she graciously
received them, being indeed highly pleased with the present. With the
remainder we returned to our masters. They received the fish as a
matter of course, not deigning in any way to thank us. Without asking
their leave we slipped back into our canoes, and paddled away towards
the hut of the princess. The men called after us, but we pretended not
to hear them, and were soon afterwards seated round a fire roasting
several fish we had lately caught.
For several days we were employed in the same manner. At length,
however, the fish would not bite, or they had left the bay--at all
events, we caught but few. Each time we returned we were received with
scowling looks by our masters; and it was very evident that though their
disposition towards us had been far from amiable when we first
encountered them, it was now considerably worse.