[A Hula girl: 167.jpg]
The above sad intelligence reached Port Moresby at early morn of the
11th, just as the _Harriet_ was about to leave for Thursday Island, and
the _Mayri_ about to take me to Hula, whilst a party of foreigners were
leaving for the East End. The news, of course, upset all arrangements,
and, after the first moments of excitement were over, our next concern
was about the safety of the two Aroma teachers. With as little delay as
possible, but with groundless forebodings of coming evil, a large party
of us left for Aroma. About ten a.m. of the 14th, we reached there, and
whilst our three boats lay off a little, so as not to arouse suspicion, a
teacher and myself went ashore. With devout gratitude I heard that both
teachers and natives were ignorant of the massacre. In less than an hour
the two teachers and their families were safely ensconced in their whale-
boat, taking along with them but a minimum of their property, according
to the orders given. By these means the chiefs and natives of Aroma were
left in utter ignorance as to the cause of our erratic movements, nor did
they seem to suspect anything.
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