THE PERILS OF NEW GUINEA.

Kumara Times, Issue 603, 30 August 1878, Page 2

THE PERILS OF NEW GUINEA.

The following letter from Mr Andrew Goldie to the Rev .Tames Macdonald, dated Poit Moresby, May 1, has been published in the Sydney Morning H-evnrltV

I have just returned from a very in* terestiug cruise along the' South-east coast of New Guinea. o*nte‘ *f the objects of my going to the eastward was to render assistance to Captain Ridlich; Our mission, as far as his iilter&fSf were concerned, was a failure, further than that we got Valuable information from native sources of the causes of the massacre at Broker Island, and what is likely to result from it. I have no doubt that the cause of the Europeans being murdered was brought about by M'Court; in the eyes of the natives it would be just retribution. The ringleaders in the murder were two of Captain Hidlich’a men, 'natives of New Britain. I refrain from writing the fact of the causes of the murder; still I cannot pass o’er the matter without comment and without condemning the foolish system that is generally pursued' by vessels engaged at work such as these unfortunate men were. I learn since I arrived here that the Sandfly has gone down. It ib a great mistake that they did nob try to see ns first. If they are careful the natives will take' her and murder all hands. This may. sound strange that one of Her JMajesty’s vessels should become a prey to savages but when facts are known it is easily accomplished. The Sandfly is too small for such work. Among these Islanders are men who can talk English, and know as well as I do the strength of the Sandfly, They are armed with Sniders, and they have gob'Booo Snider cartridges. They have likewise five huge revolvers ; in all, abotit 30 startd ot arms. Th«-y are desperate men, well armed, who know their position, *«nd will value little th«ir own -lives... The Sandfly cannot anchor at ‘ Broker without getting within' range of their rifles. To send a boat’s crew ashore, .. every man, from cover in' the bush, coaid be shot without the slightest risk to themselves I have likewise learned, from Native sources, that they intend to take o.ne of Her Majesty’s vessels—at least, try. They likewise run a danger from another source—rapid tides and calms. No vessel but one such as the. Explorer could do what we have accomplished. The currents run at least five knots. For quitirtOO miles we had to sweep her with, oars; it was impossible at times to get an anchorage, and we ran great risk of the current dragging us on the reefs. We had three .weeks of dead calms, and snipped great hardship for several flays for want of water. We sweeped her to numrerous coral islands in search of water, but could find none. We clared pot call at any of the large islands near Broker, as they were all in the massacre. At last we found a haven bf safety at a group of island not on the chart, which I purpose to call Ridlich Group, in honour of Captain Ridlich. The position and 'bearings of these fruitful islands, 1 will send next opportunity. The nearest point to Broker we reached was about two miles. We saw the iron houses belonging to Captain Ridlich, bub no natives visible with the |lass,-- but we could hear them sound a threat of defiance, by means of a shell—a common custom in New Guinea. On Bramble Haven we found a part of Captain Ridlich’s things. They were in the act of shifting the station to,that place when the murders were committed.' The Native report is that they likewise killed two Straits Natives who were left in charge there. We found near the wreck at Bramble Haven, among the ashes where there had been a fire, the rib-bones of a man ; and I have no doubt that they have eaten the men after killing them, as all the Natives to the eastward are cannibals. . On our way down the coast I discovered two splendid harbors—the finest by far that. I have seen on the New Guinea coast. In fact, the only harbor that I know equal to them is Sydney. I claim the right of naming them Glasgow and Millport Harbours—the first in honour of the Earl of Glasgow, and the second in honor of the port of Millport in the Firth of Clyde.'. I have taken s um lings and drawn,; plans, which will b^forwarded to the proper quarter. We likewise called at many places on the coast, more especially Cloudy Bay. We went up the Robinson River; took soundings, and corrected many errors on the Admiralty chart: took soundings all through the bay. I consider Cloudy Bay abmfld

hot be entered by any vessels oF ip-e,»t.er depth than the Explorer. We din- j covered a new river on the. West side | of Cloudy Bay, which I have named the Blunden River, in honor of one of my assistants. I took V>earings of many reefs all along the coast, and placed them on the chart, which will be handed to the Admiralty for the guidance of otters. I have in this trip collected over 100 fresh skins of birds, different from those in the vicinity of Port Moresby, one especially, a beautiful parrot, the finest plumage bird of that class 1 have seen. I like* wise collected a large and very valuable collection of curios, especially stone hatchets. We reached Port Moresby on April 30, having left that place on March 1, and having sailed at least 1000 miles in nnsurveyed waters. There were 10 of us, all told—seven of my party, and three volunteers. The Explorer is only eight tons, so there was not much space for comfort. I think a good deal of the appearance of the first prospecting party the . Colonist brought down. It will he wise if no others follow till they make •a report. I. intend to go inland with them next week if it Is possible to ford the river. When I return I will sail for Thursday Island, in about two weeks from this date, when ! will send to you a lengthened report of our trip to the eastward, —I am, yours truly. . Andrew Goldie. Port Moresby, May 1, 1878.