time while bargaining with the Papuans. The six men who survived were on
board the praus, and escaped by at once setting into the small boat and rowing
out to sea.
This south-west part of New Guinea, known to the native traders as "Papua
Kowiyee" and "Papua Onen," is inhabited by the most treacherous and
bloodthirsty tribes. It is in these districts that the commanders and portions of the
crews of many of the early discovery ships were murdered, and scarcely a year
now passes but some lives are lost. The Goram and Ceram traders are
themselves generally inoffensive; they are well acquainted with the character of
these natives, and are not likely to provoke an attack by any insults or open
attempt at robbery or imposition. They are accustomed to visit the same places
every year, and the natives can have no fear of them, as may be alleged in excuse
for their attacks on Europeans. In other extensive districts inhabited by the same
Papuan races, such as Mysol, Salwatty, Waigiou, and some parts of the adjacent
coast, the people have taken the first step in civilization, owing probably to the
settlement of traders of mixed breed among them, and for many years no such
attacks have taken place. On the south-west coast, and in the large island of
Jobie, however, the natives are in a very barbarous condition, and tale every
opportunity of robbery and murder,—a habit which is confirmed by the impunity
they experience, owing to the vast extent of wild mountain and forest country
forbidding all pursuit or attempt at punishment. In the very same village, four
years before, more than fifty Goram men were murdered; and as these savages
obtain an immense booty in the praus and all their appurtenances, it is to be
feared that such attacks will continue to be made at intervals as long as traders
visit the same spots and attempt no retaliation. Punishment could only be
inflicted on these people by very arbitrary measures, such as by obtaining
possession of some of the chiefs by stratagem, and rendering them responsible
for the capture of the murderers at the peril of their own heads. But anything of
this kind would be done contrary to the system adopted by the Dutch
Government in its dealings with natives.
GORAM TO WAHAI IN CERAM.
When my boat was at length launched and loaded, I got my men together, and
actually set sail the next day (May 27th), much to the astonishment of the Goram
people, to whom such punctuality was a novelty. I had a crew of three men and a
boy, besides my two Amboyna lads; which was sufficient for sailing, though
rather too few if obliged to row much. The next day was very wet, with squalls,
calms, and contrary winds, and with some difficulty we reached Kilwaru, the
metropolis of the Bugis traders in the far East. As I wanted to make some