THE REV MR CHALMERS IN NEW GUINEA.

Inangahua Times, Issue 77, 2 September 1878, Page 2

THE REV MR CHALMERS IN NEW GUINEA.

Tho Rev J. P. Sunderland, of Sydney, sends to tho Morning Herald nn ntatrnct of tho voyage of the Roy J. Chalmers in tho mission stonmor Ellongownn, and nn account of his journey inland) at tlto several plncos whero tho steamer oallcd- " Mr Chnlmors left Cooktown last Mnroh in tho Ellingowan. Thoy lincl n rough pnssago from Cooktown to South Oupc. Xhoro ho found Mrs Chalmors in snfoly. Tho natives had boliavcd troll to Mrs Chalmors and tho nnfcivo teachers. Mis Clinlmors Bnys «—* My remaining behind in Fobrunry did moro than anything olso wo could havo dono to giro tlio nntivoa confidonoo in us. I overheard flomo ofthoni say to ono another tho day after tho Ellcngowan left, ' Chalmors can* not moan us any harm, or ho would not havo loft his wifo with ns. Wo must troat her well.' Tho tcochers wcro all more or less ilt—ono very seriously no (or flro weeks, I had to doctor and nurso them as bcßfc I could. Ho got better." Mr Ohalraors gives a long and very interesting account of tho various placet ho visited. Toulon, is n fine largo villago on tho N,N.E> side. Firo or six hundred women woro in possession, and only a Tow men. They woro shy. Wo wero told by a man not to land, but wo got on to tho beich, and triod by coaxing to got tho damsels, old or young, to como down. Wo throw presents down, and then mnrcliod away r bit) which, aftor some timo, woro pickod up, After a long time, wo boenmo excellonfc friends, and I havo no doubt they will bo glad to fcco us back. Tho men and boys go on to tho mainland to plant and got food, romnining a week or two. I bolievo this is tho • Woman's Land, 1 so much talked about. Horo is a hairbroath csoapo { tho party stcamod round to Koppel Point but could find no safo anohorago and no oponing through tho roof to JCoropunu, so thoy had to go back right round outsido bnr» rior. 'Wo got to Koropunu at tho timo of thoir great annual festival ; great crowds woro in from nil tho country round. Thero was a cront feasting, dnno* ing, lind worshipping of tho groat spirit and tho spirits of ancestors When at Koropuna tho vessel had to be dono up ( so I took to bonting and tramping. I got a bout, four Chinamen, ono teacher, nnd ono Loyalty Islandor, nnd sot off for Aronn, Wo sailed over tho reef all night nnd by sunriso wo woro off Kcppol Point, Soon after wo landod off Koo Knro Point

Ht tho wo»fc end of the bny ; son ling tho boat out to son to boat about and follow a« round. Wo found Kcnknra and Aroma very lnrgo districts with 31 tdlagos, 14 of which wo visited. Wo wero objootfl cf wonder, folt nil ovor nnd tfreatty admired } to much so, that thoy decide 1 on killing u». Botwoen Kenknra nnd Arotna thoro is a stronm full of nlligators, We crossed tho stronm, ond about half a milo along enmo upon o small harbor, a break in tho roef whoro vory largo ennoes wcro lying from Toulon and Dnnui. Tho excitement was great. A Hula boy who acoompnnied us made nn oxcuso to pet to tho boat tlmt had oomo up nnd anchored a little distnnco off. Wo wont on tho boat going out to sea to follow us round to thp eastward. Wo visited villiagcs, nnd loft presents. In tho afternoon wo enmo-bnek from tho Point at Mncfnrlanco Harbor. On our return journey things looked \w* plensnnt. A great crowd root us, somo armed with spears and clubs, nnd others with pieces of wood. Women carried clubs nud distributed them in tho crowd. They tried to trip us, they found fault with us, thoy indignantly returned presents, they tried linrd to get up a row, but on wo kept. Tho Loyalty -Inlander enrriod a musket — Ihey tried to wrest it from him. Wo had aomo distance to go, and nftor along day's walk i but lifo is dear, »o | on wo walked. Tnrin, tho teacher from i Hula, who wns a littlo behind, understand" ing'most of what they said, came to mo, 1 Tamato thcro is no use going further. They haro decided to kill us boforo wo get to that point.' On wo went. Silent prayer was made to Him who could con* found Iho designs of the heathen. Wo through much excitement nnd groat con* fusion, helped by two chiefs, got to tho boat through the surf, and awny to Korcpunu. Wo reached Koropnnu at 1 o'clock in tho morning. Wo usked tho hid why ho loft us. • I heard them sny they wero going to cnt you.' ' Why did you not tell us P 1 'I was afraid they would hoar mo speaking to you.' A fow days later n ohief enmo to Kcrcpunu and was brought to mo bj a Kcrcpunu chief. I at once knew our friend who holpod to snro us. Ho told us that; Aroma wished to kill us, nnd the arrangement Was they should lmvo tho property, and Dauni should hnvo tho bodies to oat. Undecided amongst themselves as to tho plaeo suitnblo nnd who should bo tbo first wo got near tho harbor, whero tho two chiefs met us. In concluding hii abstract Mr ChnN mcrs writes :—' Wo left Korepuuu nnd wont to ITuln, when I went inland to two splendid villages (Kumnri nnd Pnpnkn) through n.i'e-s of lannua plantations kept beautifully clonn with walks naming in nil directions along lanes formed by fences of bamboo, insido of which grew cocoa nuts, bread fruit, banana, sugar enno &c. Tho houso? woro well built nnd vory largo tho streets woro kept clean and nil rofuso was carried outside to somo distance. They had market houses and mnrket regulations} From Hula wo visited till tho niisrion stations onourwny to Port Morosby, Kail e, Tupu, Siloi, Pari, Vapo, Koro, Pasili. At Port Morosby nil was well. Wo visited every. nook and corner in and around it, Wo had a pleasant meeting with tho teacher?. Kuntokn has got a class of lit tlo folks about him ns tiico as I hnvo scon nn7whcro. They rood well, nnd lWs wife has taught tho girls to wash. Wo look up and hopo tho cloud is moving boforo tho light of truth. ' Wo visited Boleapota and Boom, and then away for Murray Island to find tlut tho Key Mr and Mrs Macfarlano had loft tho morning of tho duy wo arrived. Wo followed on to Thursday Island, whero Mr Maefnr* lano joined us, nnd wo visited Matuai, Tannu, and Saibni, and wevo pica* with what wo saw."