I went ashore in one of the canoes, to be landed at
Bootu, and walk across to Milne Bay. Before leaving the vessel I engaged
with the natives to take me right away to the head of the lagoon, and
when I had seen Milne Bay, to return me to the vessel, when they would be
paid for all their trouble. So with our bags and a few eatables, we
started; when about a mile away from the vessel, they headed the canoe
more in towards the right shore, and no amount of talk in calmness or
wrath would get them to do otherwise. We touched at a place not far from
a village we visited overland--some left us, and we were certainly now
too weak to proceed. We ran down to the village, where we landed with my
bag, and away went my native canoe men. Love or money would not move the
villagers, and they were exceedingly impudent, knowing well that we were
quite in their hands. My friend the mate, who insisted on accompanying
me, agreed with me that things were rather out of the common with us, and
that a sharp eye, and quick ear, and quick action were of some
importance.
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