NEW GUINEA.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 65, 21 December 1871, Page 3

NEW GUINEA.

VISIT BY A MISSIONARY.-THE EXISTANCE OF GOLD, &c. The fti/dnc;/ Mommy Herald has the following encouraging account of a trip to New Guinea :—“Tho schooner ‘ Surprise,’ from New Guinea, lias lately been employed by the London Missionary Society on the coast of New Guinea, where she has been most successful in placing missionary teachers and their families on the main and adjacent islands. Capt. Paget informs us that at every place visited, instead of hostility and treachery being shown, as has generally been believed, they experienced nothing but the greatest kindness and hospitality, and all seemed highly pleased at having teachers placed amongst them, and it is evident they are very desirous of having intercourse with Europeans. At Redscar Bay, Capt. Paget and his chief officer went about 15 miles up the Manoa River, where they had communication with several tribes, and were kindly treated by all : they seemed a perfectly harmless race of people, and not a single war instrument of any kind was seen amongst them. They were certainly of Malay origin, and it was quite evident they had never seen white men before, as they gazed with wonder and astonishment at them, and would not believe they were human beings until they were convinced by thoroughly examining them ; they also seemed most anxious to have further intercourse with them by inviting them to stay; and upon their departure they showed great sorrow; the women and children crying and the men following them a long way down the river, waving green bushes and making them presents of sugar-cane, &c. That gold exists is quite certain, as one of the missionaries had an earthen cooking utensil made a present to him in which several small specks of gold were distinctly seen.”