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Chalmers, James, 1841-1901

"Adventures in New Guinea"

"
I find the people have the same sign of friendship as in the east end of
New Guinea--nose and stomach pointed to. They speak of a land, Daui,
with which they are friendly, a very long way off. Daunai, of Orangerie
Bay, is called Daui in some places. To their tree houses they have
ladders with long vines on each side to assist ascent. Our delay here
will help us to know the people. I have just been showing them the
likenesses of two young friends, and the excitement has been great, men,
women, and children crowding round, thumb in mouth, scratching and
shaking heads, and leaping and screaming, coming again and again to have
a look.
22_nd_.--A number of strangers slept, or rather made a noise all night in
houses close by, and amongst them a spiritist, whose hideous singing and
chanting of revelations was enough to drive one frantic. We tried to
quiet him, but it was of no use--silenced he would not be. A man sitting
by us when having morning tea asked for some of the salt we were using.
We told him it was not salt, but sugar.


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