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I was aroused about two a.m. by shouting, and, looking over the gunwale, saw a large double fighting canoe alongside of Piri's boat, in which all were sound asleep. On awaking, they were startled by the appearance. They were asked by those on the bridge "Who are you?" "Tamate and Piri going to Motumotu." Soon all were friends, chewing betel-nut and smoking tobacco.
"Piri, go with Eeka as your friend; give him a present as such; it is all right. I go with Semese." Soon squatting on the platform, wrath fled, and I had to wait to be fed. "But, Semese, I want to press on to Motumotu and see them. I am afraid of the weather coming on bad." "Motumotu to-morrow, Lese to-day; you must have a pig." "Leave the pig for another visit." All was of no avail.
They are certainly blaming the right party; but for Motumotu, the Pari, Vapukori, Port Moresby, Boliapata, and Boera trading canoes would all have been down the coast last season.
Chalmers asked by the natives to go to Elema Native fears Difficulties at the start Namoa Delena A Motumotu trading canoe Interview with Semese, chief of Lese Christian natives Friendly meeting with a war canoe Arrival at Motumotu Friendly reception Viewing Mr. Chalmers's feet Natives in full dress Sunday open-air service Sago as an article of commerce Peace agreed upon Return to Boera.
Pulling brought us to Varivara Islands, in Redscar Bay, about two a.m., where we anchored until six when we tried to make Cape Suckling. As it was blowing hard from the north-west, we had to put into Manumanu. The Motu traders did all they could to persuade us to give up Motumotu, and to visit Kabadi.
The principal man in the canoe, knowing that all, except our boatman, Bob Samoa, had friends at Motumotu, made friends with him, rubbing noses and handing his lime gourd, which is to be shown on arrival, and his father and friends will receive Bob as his friends. They go on to Lolo in quest of uros. We landed to cook food.
The superstition is current all over the East Indies without exception, and it is found also among the Motu and Motumotu tribes, the Papuans of Finsch Haven in North New Guinea, the Nufoors of Dutch New Guinea, and the Melanesians of the Bismarck Archipelago.
There are said to be ancient crones in Lerwick now who live by selling wind. Ulysses received the winds in a leathern bag from Aeolus, King of the Winds. The Motumotu in New Guinea think that storms are sent by an Oiabu sorcerer; for each wind he has a bamboo which he opens at pleasure.
When the Motumotu of New Guinea first saw their likenesses in a looking-glass, they thought that their reflections were their souls. In New Caledonia the old men are of opinion that a person's reflection in water or a mirror is his soul; but the younger men, taught by the Catholic priests, maintain that it is a reflection and nothing more, just like the reflection of palm-trees in the water.
It was a pretty sight in the moonlight to see the canoe move swiftly on, when nearly eight paddles as one touched the water. We rolled ourselves up again for another hour or two's sleep. At sis a.m. we weighed anchor, and were off to Motumotu. There was a great crowd on the beach; but it was all right, as boys and girls were to be seen there, as noisy as the grown-up folks.