H.M. BASILISK AT NEW GUINEA

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 369, 1 July 1874, Page 5

H.M. BASILISK AT NEW GUINEA

' DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. An account of the surveying cruise of H.M. Basilisk at Now Guinea appears in the '• Sydney Morning Herald," from which we make the following extract : — At Lydia Islnnd we anchored, and a clear passage across into Goschen Straits waß found, the narrowest part being a milo in breadth. This part was regularly surveyed by the boats. From Lydia the ship proceeded across towards D'Entracastcaux islands. Found theso islands well cultivated and rich in soil, with numerous villages, and a large population. The ship was anchored in Dawson's Strait, to the north of Normanby Island. This group comprises three large islands, which we named Normandy, Fergusson, and Goodenough. The natives were friendly-disposed towards us. The steam pinnace and whaler, with Captain Moresby and myself, went about 180 miles round the coast of these islands. On the north side of Fergusson island we found beautiful water-falls and boiling springs of water coming out of the carth — quite boiling enough to cook eggs ; and it seems so strange that on this side we came across no natives, or formation of coral or cocoanut trees — I should say on account of these springs. We were away six days from the ship at these islands ; brought off great quantities of sago and arrowroot, yams, and pigs. They have large rude places, regularly built, to make the sago. The natives here are armed with spears, wooden swords, and they use slings, which latter they use very well at firing at a mark. The natives traded with us without the least fear, but were fully armed on our first arrival. Before we had communication with them a large party of spearsmen kept separate from tho main body (l-eady to act if they were required), until they found out our peaceful intentions. They throw these spears very true, which they showed us. From these islands we steamed across towards the north coast of New Guinea, and coasted it towards the East Cape, from thence to the east extent of D'Entracasteaux Island, Cape Ventenant. We found no anchorage in one of tho bays, which we called Centipede Bay. From this part of the coast, towards Dawson's Straits, is a very bold coast, with few anchorages, the mountains coming close to the sea, the height of some being 5000 feet above the level of the sea. From here we proceeded towards Moresby Island. From this spot proceeded towards Engineer's Group ; from there we proceeded to the north, where we found the passage — a fine clear one, of three to four miles in width, perfectly clear of all dangers. This passage has been properly surveyed throughout, from D'Entracasteaux* Islands to Teste Island, and is fit for any sailing ships — tho original China Straits being-, quite put out in tho cold. The ship proceeded to BJakney Island, thence to the Engineers' Group, and anchored in a bay under Skeleton Island. This is a vary j fine group of ielnuda well cultivated, and with numerous villages ; we remained three days. The natives here were friendly-disposed towards us ; we obtained yams and a few pigs. Daring our stay tho natives o£ the islands were on the point of going to war against those of another. It appears that some of tho natives had been stealing yams from one another ; they made signs to us that they were going to fight the other people. Sure enough next morning, as we steamed out, we saw a large body of war canoes assembled, about fifty i i number. Evidently they meant mischief. We could not remain on account of the ship being on the way to Possession Bay to meet tho coal ship there. It is very clear that these islanders fight amongst themselves, as we saw numerous natives with spear wouihls. The natives about Possession Bay are great thieves ; we had a little experience when we were up here last time. Tho schooner Sandfiy found them out as well. It appears that they were on shore watering, when the natives stole three baneoes for carrying water. On our arrival a party landed from the schooner next morning and seized two natives. They had a regular scuffle in getting them on board, the natives throwing stones at the men, the latter firing their revolvers orcr them. The next day tho friends of tho two natives came alongside of the schooner and brought off a large pig and yams, but it was shewn to the natives that the baricoes were the things wanted. Next day the natives brought back the staves of the baricoes, but not the iron hoops ; they did not get their friends, but on the following clay they came back with the staves and iron hoops, and the two men were released. It has done some good. A native stole a saw from the barque Reconnaissance, and the same forenoon it was brought back to the vessel by the chief of the village where it had been taken. The little steam pinnace has done wonders since our arrival at Now Guinea; it has steamed close on 1200 miles of soundings. We have done more in six weeks than we could have done iv six months had wo been without the pinnance, as the schooner was perfectly useless to us on account of the light winds and variable ones. The temperature ranged about 84 deg. at noon and 81 deg. at midnight. We leave here on Tuesday, the 4th of Api'il, for the East Cape of New Guinea, and then te the north-west. The reefs are black in some places with beeche-de-rner (the lia fish kind), The natives about Possession Bay are on no account to be trusted, they are so different to the natives of Port Moresby — some three hundred miles to the westward. The land is also the best to the west.

CROMWELL ON A PERMISSIVE BILL. — A correspondent, writing to an English paper, says :—": — " It may be news to some of our readers that a Permissive Bill was talked of in the seventeenth century. The following extract from Whitclock's ' Memorials ' (folio edition, 1682 r p. 457) shows Cromwell's views on the subject. It is part of a reply to some Scotch ministers : — 'Your pretended fear lest error should step in is like the man who would keep all the wine out of the country lest men should be drunk. If will be found an unwise and unjust jealousy to deny the man the liberty he hath by nature upon a supposition he may abuse it; when he docs abuse it, judge." Obange Harvest. — Large quantities of oranges, cays the " Alta California," are daily arriving at tho depot at Los Angelos to be shipped to San Francisco. One dealer of San Gabriel sold his orange crop for 30dols. per 1000. His orange grove covers five acres, and contains 500 trees. Estimating these at 1000 oranges each, the crop is worth 15,000dols. ; 3000clols. an acre is a protty good return for their cultivation. One acre* in Southern California can be made to yield as great a clear profit by semi-tropical nut and fruit culture as 20 to 50 acres in the Eastern States devoled to ordinary kinds of farming. Supposed Discovery of the Site of { Taov . — It has lung been a controverted 1 point whether the tale of Troy divine, as sung by Homer and Virgin, was story founded on real historical occurences, or a pure invention of the poets . A certain Dr - chelieuiann has gone far towards setting this question at rest. He went to a spot in Asia Minor called Hissarlik, the Ilium Novein of ancient geography and the supposed site of ancient Troy. Hore lie commenced excavations, and discovered the foun-laiions of several cities— one built upon'the ruins of the other. Under a layer of debris he found shields, diggers, dishes, huge drinking cups— one of "them weighing as much as a pound and a-half of pure gold— and, most precious of all, a silver vase containing, besides a variety of other articles, thousands of gold rings and buttons. These exceedingly rich relics are not Greek in character and Dr. Scheliemann believes them to have been the treasures of King Priam himself.