17

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tion. The Garians had declared through Mangawarra that they would descend to the coast in strong force, kill every one in Kaile, and burn down the village. His Excellency then sent a cutter, with Mr. E. Hunter and the local chief Boi Vagi on board, and left himself for Kaile on the 21st September. On the 23rd the cutter returned with Mr. Hunter, but Sir Peter continued his voyage to the eastward. He stopped at Kappakappa, and through mission-teachers of Kappakappa and Eigo endeavoured to impress upon the Garians the necessity for avoiding further bloodshed. They were very sullen, however. Only one minor chief came to the "palaver," and they took a peaceoffering, or "maino," virtually under protest. By an unfortunate omission on this occasion, the Garians, although warned off Kaile, were not cautioned as to Vaboori. On this flimsy pretext, therefore, a few days after Sir Peter had left Kappakappa, the Vaboorians were attacked, and, according to Mr. Hunter's subsequent report, " I found the village completely deserted, but the women, boys, and girls lately massacred were laid out on platforms about 4ft. or sft. high. I counted them—two middle-aged women, six young girls, and two boys between six and seven years old. I also saw the remains of twenty houses burned down." On the 20th October the news of this massacre reached me, and on the following day I despatched Mr. Eobert Hunter to the village of Tupuselei, near to Vaboori, to make inquiries and exercise any useful influence he could in restraining further bloodshed. From his inquiries it seemed likely that Mr. George Hunter, who had had more experience among the inland people, might produce an effect by visiting the large hill-village of Eigo, and he accordingly received instructions from me to proceed there on the 25th October. The efforts of the Messrs. Hunter at this time were, on the whole, satisfactory ; but in December the Garia people recommenced threats, and I was compelled to send Mr. E. Hunter again to Kaile. The Garians at this time wished to wipe out the rest of the Vaboori villagers, and were making preparations to do so. Mr. Hunter once more succeeded in quieting the hostile feeling for the time, and frequently visited Kaile and the neighbouring villages, by my direction, afterwards. The Garia people still menaced Kaile, however. The latter almost ceased to cultivate their gardens, and were on the verge of starvation. On the 14th of June I had a deputation of chiefs and natives from Kaile asking for protection in cultivating their plantations, as they were all very hungry. I told them I would once more warn the Garia people, and that they could go on making their gardens. If they were interfered with they were to let me know directly. The party then left me quite satisfied. Matters went on without any interruption to mention, until Mr. G. Hunter reported on the 14th October that the Garia people had been down to the Kaile limits and returned to their village for a large feast. After this, they intended to descend in force, rob the gardens, kill the villagers, and burn down the village. [Mr. Musgrave handed this unfinished report to me at Port Moresby on the 2nd December. Up to date I have not received the concluding portion.—J.D. 31st December, 1886.]

APPENDIX E. The Colonial Office to Edwaed Schubekt, Esq. Sib,— Downing Street, 30th October, 1875. 1 am directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, transmitting the prospectus of a proposed association to be styled "The New Guinea Colonising Association," with a draft of proposed rules and regulations for the guidance of an expeditionary force, and requesting that this project may receive the moral support of Her Majesty's Government, and such legal recognition as the promoters conceive could be given to it by the enrolment of the expeditionary force under the Volunteer Act, and the appointment of certain members of it as Justices of the Peace for the Island of New Guinea. 2. His Lordship has attentively examined the scheme laid before him by you, and regrets that he is obliged to consider it one to which he can in no way give the approval which you seek. Even if the information at present possessed by any persons in this country were such as to afford any assurance, or even any confident expectation, that an expedition such as is projected would not result in commercial failure, in loss of health and life to its members, and in serious disturbances among the native tribes of the island (the probability of any of which consequences would impose a heavy responsibility on a Government which would lend it the weight of an official recommendation), it would be Lord Carnarvon's imperative duty to object very strongly to the leading features of the proposal, on public and constitutional grounds. 3. Even if New Guinea were a part of the Queen's dominions, it would be impossible to entertain the suggestion that a number of persons brought together by the love of adventure or the desire of profit should indiscriminately, and without a searching scrutiny into the personal fitness of each, be enrolled or commissioned as members of a military or quasi-military force, whose services within this island could be accepted by, and whose proceedings would be invested with the high sanction of, Her Majesty. For service in an unknown country, abounding, as far as has been ascertained, in the gravest physical difficulties, and inhabited by a numerous, powerful, and warlike population, a force would need to be very differently constituted. 4. So, also, with regard to the appointment of Magistrates, Her Majesty's Government could on no account accept, as suitable persons to discharge the duties of Magistrate in any part of the Queen's dominions, the unknown conditions of which demand experience and special attainments, such persons as a company might select as its leaders, chaplains, or medical officers. 5. His Lordship directs me to add that he would be glad if, consistently with his duty, he 3—A. 5.