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Chalmers, James, 1841-1901

"Adventures in New Guinea"

We were glad
to find our old friend and his wife well, and the things we left just as
we hung them up. They are very anxious to have teachers here. We were
telling them that we could see no people, and they have gone and brought
in great crowds, saying, "No people! what are these?" I cut up tobacco
and spread it out on a leaf in the centre of the crowd, and called out,
"For Sogeri." One of their number was appointed by them, and he
distributed it, all sitting quietly round. I got some salt in a paper,
and did as with the tobacco. All rose, and in order approached, took
some and retired, leaving the remainder, nearly half, for a very old man.
The beads I gave to the women, the men saying they ought to have had them
too. "Come and live with us; there is no place like Sogeri--it is good,
it is large, it is peaceful, and there is plenty of food." So say the
Sogerians. I was sitting on the ladder of the house, the crowd sitting
round. Rua was in the bush with his gun; he fired at a bird, and it was
amusing to see the simultaneous jerk of the crowd when they heard the
shot.


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