United States or Georgia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
There came a sharp bend in the river, and then a long straight reach of water lying between the forest-covered banks. Suddenly Iko called out, and Tamate and Mr. and Mrs. Abel peered ahead. The great trees of the river nearly met above their heads, and only a narrow strip of sky could be seen. There in the distance were the houses of Iala, close clustered on both banks of the steaming river.
"No white man has even seen the people of Iala," said Tamate for that was the native name given to James Chalmers, the Scottish boy who had now gone out to far-off Papua as a missionary. "Iko there" and he pointed to a stalwart Papuan who stood by the funnel "is the only one of us who has seen them and can speak their tongue.
In a flash every arrow was taken from its bow, and again not a weapon was to be seen. Iko then called out again to Pouta, and Tamate told Iko what he was to say to his friend, the savage chief. For some minutes the conversation went on. At last Iko came to the point of asking for a canoe to take them ashore. Chief Pouta hesitated.
As soon as the bow of the canoe touched the bank, Tamate, without hesitating a second, stepped out with Iko. Together they walked up to the chief Pouta, and Tamate put his arms around him in an embrace of peace. Pouta, standing on a high place, shouted to all his warriors. But none of the white people knew a word of his meaning.
All the women and children had been sent away, for these men were out to fight. They did not know whether this strange house upon the water with the smoke coming from its chimney was the work of gods or devils. Still they stood there to face the strange thing and, if need be, to fight. Brown Iko stood in the bows of the Miro; near him stood Tamate.
You give them greater confidence in us than all our words." By this time the canoe had paddled alongside the launch. Tamate went over the side first into the canoe, then Mrs. Abel, then Mr. Abel, Iko, and Vaaburi. The canoe pushed off again and paddled toward the landing place, where a crowd of Ialan savages filled every inch of space.
Without stooping each caught up an arrow that stood between his toes and with one movement fixed it and pulled the bamboo strings of their black bows till the notch of the arrows touched their ears. A hundred arrows were aimed at the hearts of Tamate and Mr. and Mrs. Abel. Swiftly Iko stood upon the bulwark of the Miro, and shouted just one word at the top of his voice.
So Tamate, wishing to ask Iko how far away the village of Iala was, spoke first to old Vaaburi, and then Vaaburi asked Iko. Iko stretched out his dark forefinger, and made them understand that that finger meant the length of their journey to Iala.
We have come without weapons. We have brought with us a woman of our tribe, for we come in peace. We are strangers. But we come with great things to tell. Some day we will come again and will stay with you and will tell you all our message. To-day we come only to make friends." Then Iko closed his eyes and prayed in the language of the people of Iala.
Then with his other hand he touched his forefinger under the second joint to show how far they had travelled on their journey not a third of the distance. Hour after hour went by, as the steamer drove her way through the swiftly running waters of Aivai. And ever Iko pointed further and further up his finger until at last they had reached his claw-like nail.
Word Of The Day