EXPLORATIONS IN NEW GUINEA.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 617, 10 June 1876, Page 3

EXPLORATIONS IN NEW GUINEA.

aunt ffj bsi nd> A paper by Mr M'Farlane,, the who has already eo 'snce&Mfuliy explored portions of the coast of New Guinea, spas latifiyfeadbdfdf e'-tlto and the facts contained in it will probably, diaappoifit ’ those Twifib' look¥d ’f to' a apeedy colonisation of that island. Mr M'Farlane and his partyj atidtig them Signor .have jtuccjseded ,in pushing'their way up the Ply KiVfefc' tir a distance' of one hupji?ft4l%Bd mileh ?iroih othe 1 This adventurous trip-was accomplished in the little missionary ‘Steamer Ellaagowan, which had ■preViously steamed 1 "up the Baxter River nearly one hundred miles into the interior. .Nouone lias’ 'hitherto been able to ascend the Fly on account of thejapptile natives, but Mr M'Farlane has hoen hkire successful. Though the natives seemed ready enough at first to attack the vessel, they were put to flight by a few shots aim#! t.at Itheir \ canoes^'-TaP'dA later* by some dynamite . - which was exploded in front of them. Owing to good management and the evident determination -not to kill the savages if it were in «my-way possible to save themselves without blood--Bhedp |Mr (M‘Farlftnc twbb- enabled'’ to estaiblish comnaunications on the return voyage ■ with some of those who at first seemed most anxious to destroy the new-comers, .and even succeeded in tempting .the bn hoard the steamer. The result of fear and combined was that the Papuans jnever attempted to seize the vessel, even swhen she was run high and dry on a shoal and her propeller disabled. This was the inore fortunate, because most of the native ’crew were at the time laid up with fever, and the .white men themselves were in no very healthy state—the rains and bad climate 'generally-baying.: brought pnilhat swelling of She whicliiis not uncommon in* Jtheae latitudes. As in? the-, case of■the Baxter River, the population seemed thinner as the interior pf tbp country wap Reached, but no 1 high 4and r could bfe 1 seen 'within a moderate distance, even at the, farthest pomt reached by the JBllangowan. jMr Mj®arlaSjr|s $ opinion that no missionaty settlement could be maintained heresave.by the aid Ojf tribes themselves \ apd there .capr be no ■ dbubt that a trifling accident might occasion? the loss of any vessel whose crew were leas. prudent and. judioious th an , M that .of . this, smart little craft. Mr M'Farlane’s expedition, is commented upop by the Australian' newspapers; and from these comments we learn that the Australians are still of opinion that the interests of'the empire imperatively demand that Papua’ should be taken possession of out of, hand. If the results of Mr Stone’s trip from Port Moresby on the east-, ern side of the Gulf of Papua had been before them, they would no doubt- have been jeven more enthusiastic as to the advantages which Great Britain would derive from immediate annexation, -Mr Stone’s inquiries thoroughly confirm the favorable report given by Captain Moresby of the natives of the great Eastern Peninsula,. .The three tribes whom Mr Stone encountered were of a semi-Malayan -appearance, and their language resembled :that of some of the Polynesians. They were exceedingly, friendly oa the whole, though one' village Wap terribly l alarmed ;pt the arrival of Mr Stone and his little party of white men. It is unfortunate that Mr Stone was unable.to Carry out his plan of crossing the peninsula, but everything seems to point; to a much earlier exploration of the interim of New Guinea than we thought likely a few months ago. If the scarcity of natives farther inland be found to be the rule, travel iu the interior will be less dangerous than was anticipated ; but we fancy that the marshy country that lies between the Baxter and Ply affords but little criberipn of population. Nothing, however, has yet been discoveredor pointed out which could justify annexation .either in our own interest or that of the natives.

The late Grand Duchess Marie was well known as a patroness of art, and the artists of St Petersburgh have determined to found an art gallery to be called by her name. It is to consist of : three sections—one of paintiflg, one of sculpture, and one mixed.