Diffusion Box Set
Page 90
“I certainly see why you are in such a state of hugger-mugger (confusion),” said Charles. “Perhaps the simplest explanation is that the soldiers from Tidore had grown weary of the place and did indeed take advantage of a trading prau that happened to arrive on the very day you visited the mountain tribe. I would have gone to the Sultan of Tidore to inquire as to whether they had safely returned to their stations there, had I known there was such a need.”
“Yes, it is possible that they left on a trading vessel,” said I. “But I find the entire situation to be troubling nevertheless. While the Hester Helena was here today, I asked Captain Duivenboden if he had heard any news of the two men returning to Tidore, but he had heard nothing.”
“Which by no means proves anything one way or the other,” said he.
“Quite true.”
After thinking quietly for some time, Charles said, “Perhaps we should pocket the native chief’s affronts to your rights and consider things from his perspective.”
“Go on.”
“Penapul believes that he holds the rights to trading in the area surrounding his village, notwithstanding true and legal control being granted to the Sultan of Tidore. I imagine Penapul loves the Sultan as the Devil loves holy water, and no doubt he has fought to maintain his trading rights for many years. In his eyes this may be as precious to him as your rights as an English gentleman are to you. But you wish to collect birds and animals in the area—his area. You do not wish to trade the specimens you collect, nor to hinder in any way his trading of feathers and skins, but it seems likely you would not convince him of such truth.”
“All of which is correct,” I said. “So where does this lead your thoughts?”
“Perhaps we should appear to Penapul that we are willing to come out at the little end of the horn (disadvantaged), when in fact we may come out at the big end. We should promise to him that we will not trade with the mountain tribes.” He held up his hand as I started to speak. “Yes, even though you have legal authority to do so. We should attempt to ask him which specific birds and mammals he does not wish us to collect, and thus we avoid them and remain in his favor. Or perhaps we should ask how far we would need to travel, or if there are any specific areas such as certain mountains or valleys, where he would not object to our collecting.”
I considered this. “I suppose you are correct, although avoiding certain birds and mammals would be less than ideal, as it would result in a collection that does not truly represent the area’s diversity of creatures.”
“You are correct, sir,” said Charles. “But I do wish to see some of the great island of New Guinea before I lay down the knife and fork. I am merely suggesting that we first gain the chief’s favor, and then the fat may burn itself out of the fire (the trouble may blow over).”
Notwithstanding the serious nature of our conversation, I was compelled to laugh, as it had been many weeks since I had enjoyed the company of another civilized man.
“Assuming that the fat does indeed burn itself out of the fire,” said I, “there will be much for us to accomplish in the coming months. Tell me, Charles, of your state of pleasurable excitement, as I am in need of words to remind me of why I endeavored to come here.”
This resulted in a broad smile upon his face. “I fear that you may grow weary of my smirking gigglemug. My being here is like a childhood dream come true. You will be pleased to know that, before departing London, I finished putting up and labeling your substantial collection of beetles from Scotland. So I departed mad as hops (excitable), with no unfinished business to burden my mind. And now that I am here, in spite of my greeting by men who are clearly as savage as a meat axe, I am all-fired grateful for such an opportunity, and I am at your service, bag and baggage.”
The next morning when my boys arrived to begin working on a house for Charles, I took Amborn with me to see the chief. With the boy’s help I explained to Penapul that I wished to avoid interfering with or intruding upon his trading rights and asked if there might be places we could collect without doing so. He smiled broadly at this and immediately told me of a place where I was welcome to collect anything I wished. He made it abundantly clear that there were many birds and other animals there, and of types that were not to be found near the village. This was quite satisfactory to me, until I asked how far it was. Apparently it required several days of travelling, which meant Charles and I would have to sleep in the forest, without the comforts I had taken no small effort to create in my house. Penapul assured me that my boys would take me there, presumably helping with carrying and with other tasks.
It did somewhat surprise me that Penapul was so pleased to offer this assistance, but any uncertainties I may have had were lessened by my excitement to begin serious collecting efforts again and my hopes of being in the chief’s good favor, which in turn would ensure our safety.
Although I returned to my house with renewed enthusiasm, I still insisted that Charles and I both sleep with loaded guns beside us.
6
April 16, 1868
The construction of Charles’ house went without difficulties. It was, in fact, a more efficient process than the construction of my own house, as I had become much more skillful in conveying to my laborers what I wished for them to do, due to my increasing command of their crude language and of particular gesticulations they understood. We built the house next to mine, at the same height above the ground, although somewhat smaller. The construction took fewer than three days, and this time seemed to pass quickly due to Charles’ interminable fervor.
After the house was complete I endeavored to teach Charles all I had learned regarding the natives, guarding against irritating insects, avoiding certain foods I had found to cause intestinal distress, and other important necessities for living here. I also provided Charles with a systematic review of insects, birds, and other animals I had collected thus far, which was miserably limited.
Finally, we began preparing for an excursion to the region recommended to us by the chief. In preparing the necessary supplies, my boys, Amborn in particular, were very helpful. They demonstrated how we could combine my limited supply of cotton canvas with natural materials from the forest to construct reasonably dry shelters that could be swiftly dismantled and carried for some miles to be erected again for the following night. It was beginning to look like we would be able to travel to the area and collect there for a number of days with acceptable comfort. Furthermore, I was able to make certain that my three boys could carry all necessary equipment and supplies. Charles and I would carry guns, ready to shoot birds and mammals when they were found.
On several occasions during these recent preparations, the chief came to see us. Upon each visit he excitedly gesticulated and talked about the distant region he had informed me about. It was as if he greatly anticipated our departure for the place, and he expressed exaggerated surprise that we had not already travelled there and returned with all manner of rare and magnificent creatures. I was at the same time encouraged and distressed by this newly-acquired attitude of jubilant support. Such copious enthusiasm was not typical for Penapul, and I could not help but find it to be suspicious.
My distress regarding this matter increased yesterday, when Penapul paid us yet another visit. He came to us at a time when my boys were not present, but my rapidly growing ability to communicate allowed me to understand much of what he was saying. He explained that he now wished for my three boys to guide us to the recommended region and then return to the village, leaving us there to collect and manage all necessary tasks on our own. He made it clear that the boys would return to us after an agreed upon number of days and then guide us and carry our supplies back. This arrangement was not satisfactory to me, which I attempted to explain to him. He either did not comprehend or was simply unwilling to discuss it further, for he promptly left us to puzzle over this news.
Last evening, after I had sent my boys away for the day, I discussed this new predicament with Charles.
Note
: Again I have included this conversation exactly as it took place, to help readers understand the decisions that were made leading up to subsequent fateful events.
I was extremely distressed by our situation, and I paced back and forth in my house, slapping at mosquitoes with more force than necessary. “My instinct tells me I should fear the worst, that perhaps Penapul has instructed the boys to murder us in our sleep and return to the village.”
As soon as I had uttered this, I knew it was not logical, and Charles confirmed this.
“If that were the case, sir, why tell us anything that might cause our suspicion? And for that matter, why not simply murder us here?”
“Well, for one thing, they know we keep our guns with us at all times. But I suppose you are correct. I cannot imagine, however, why he would wish for my boys to leave us in the wilderness. Perhaps he plans to stop them from returning for us, thinking we will perish without their assistance, thus being rid of us without any risk to members of his tribe.”
Charles nodded at this.
“God blind me!” I cried. “We should have left this wretched place on the Hester Helena.”
“Is it possible, sir, that you are allowing the chief to become your bugaboo?” said Charles. “Perhaps we should not worry so much. Since my arrival here, I feel that I have come to know your boys quite well, particularly Amborn. They seem to have substantial loyalty to you, and now perhaps to me as well. And the chief seems to me to have a fancy for putting on the pot (being grand) and is rather impulsive, sometimes becoming excited about one idea or another and then promptly forgetting it in favor of yet another idea that seems interesting for the moment.”
“Again you are correct, Charles. I believe I know what you are suggesting, that we proceed with our plans. When we arrive at or destination, we convince my boys to remain with us as we collect.”
Charles continued my reasoning. “And when we return, Penapul will either have forgotten his exorbitant request or he will have no choice but to welcome us back, given that he seems to be afraid to confront us in person. I would expect him at that juncture to display a bit of podsnappery (willfully ignore inconvenient facts).”
“Charles, you are indeed optimistic, and I cannot express enough gratitude that you are now here with me on this most trying adventure.”
“It seems we have a plan!” he said.
And so we decided we will leave tomorrow morning. I instructed my boys to arrive early, prepared for a collecting excursion that could last as long as a week.
7
April 20, 1868
A great many remarkable events have occurred since we departed from the village, such that it is difficult for me to believe it was merely three days past. But I shall attempt to tell of them in the order in which they occurred. First, I shall point out that, although I had my doubts during the first day and night of travel, I can now say with some confidence that I am rather well suited to a primitive existence in the tropical wilds. I have come to realize that nearly any difficulty can be overcome with some ingenuity and effort, and I have developed an increasing respect for the practical knowledge of Amborn and his patience in teaching me his apparently inherent skills. The other two boys, Miok and Loo, have proven themselves to be useful but do not seem to have much interest in learning to communicate with me or in teaching me, as Amborn does.
The first day of travelling was trying, as Charles and I were not yet accustomed to the rigors of moving great distances through untrodden forest. However, we soon developed a reasonable rhythm of walking and restful pausing that resulted in steady progress. My boys were considerably more burdened with supplies than Charles and I, but they seemed to travel without tiring, and I became determined to learn to match their pace.
I estimated that we travelled over four miles on the first day. We established our first camp without difficulty, and I was thankful we had practiced the procedures under less demanding circumstances next to my house. I can report with honesty that I slept reasonably well that night. Amborn had instructed me on how to construct a platform of sticks to elevate my sleeping mat several inches above the ground to limit the number of ants crawling over my body during the night. The boys were skillful in constructing these swiftly and with little apparent effort. I had brought a small supply of palm oil for my lamp and for applying to the supports to prevent the ants from climbing them, but Amborn showed me how to accomplish the same task with sap from a tree that he called lanol.
Travelling the second day became even more efficient, and by midday we had covered a distance equal to that of the entire previous day. In the afternoon, as we descended into a valley, my boys stopped and pointed at something. About fifty yards away, I saw movement in the dense trees and realized I was gazing upon the most magnificent bird I had ever seen. I knew it to be a cassowary, though I was sure these birds were not yet known to exist in this region of New Guinea. Its splendid blue and crimson head was held aloft at about the height of my chin by an absurdly slender neck. The bird slowly walked away from us, as if it held no fear of man. Charles saw it, too, and he took aim at it and shot, missing. My gun was loaded with eight shot, which at the considerable distance would have little effect. The bird fled into the forest and was not seen again. It was a disappointing loss, and Charles apologized profusely for failing to kill such a splendid specimen. My boys, apparently excited by the sighting, exchanged enthusiastic words. They then put down their loads and began constructing our camp.
A good number of daylight hours remained in which to travel, and I asked Amborn why we had stopped. He explained that the presence of the cassowary indicated we had arrived at our destination. This delighted me, not only because the journey had taken less time than I had presumed it would, but also because this meant that I might have further opportunities to shoot one of these remarkable birds.
I scouted the immediate area to confirm that fresh water could be procured nearby, and we set about establishing a camp that could sustain us for several days. When things were situated to my satisfaction, I gathered my three boys and attempted to explain that I wished for them to stay with us rather than returning to the village as Penapul had requested. I then gave them a length of fine calico and three new knives as a further incentive to stay. They responded to this by tearing the calico into three equal lengths so that they would each have their own, and then they compared their knives, pointing out the minutest differences that might indicate that their own was better than the other two. Amborn then explained, however, that they had no intention of leaving us alone. They did not remember or were perhaps unaware of the chief’s request. This relieved my anxiety considerably. And again I was relieved, upon the first light of morning, to see that they had not snuck away during the night.
Our first full day of collecting was successful beyond my hopes, as I had become accustomed to my disappointing efforts nearer to Humboldt Bay. We saw two cassowaries, and Charles succeeded in shooting one of them, which did much to ease his suffering personal esteem from the previous day’s miss. This bird not only provided a most impressive skin and feathers, but also a substantial supply of meat that I found to have an agreeable flavor. I am inclined to write at length regarding the anatomical details of this bird, but that should wait until a later date when I have the time to compare specimens and adequately prepare manuscripts for publishing. In addition to the cassowary, we shot seven parrots of five species (including one of deep red), one cockatoo, two lories, three kingfishers, four pigeons of different species, four thrushes of the same species, three species of warblers, one sunbird, two cuckoos, fourteen flycatchers, and a honeysucker. With regard to mammals, we shot a small flying opossum and an opossum-like cuscus.
Insects, particularly butterflies and longicorn beetles, many with a brilliant metallic luster, appeared to be abundant. I collected the most impressive of those we saw, but I decided to devote a day to collecting more insects after first procuring a good representation of the area’s birds and other animals.
Knowing that we had supplies for no more than four days of collecting, I began our second day determined to venture inland to the south from our base camp. Then on our third day, I reasoned, we would venture as far as possible to the east, and on our fourth day to the west. Hence we set out early. I had my boys bring choppers and instructed them to clear a wide path as we made our way south. My plan was to establish paths in each direction from our base camp so that we could return here on future collecting trips and use the same paths, thus reducing duplicated efforts. Based upon our success on the previous day, I was even considering building a permanent house at the site of our base camp.
Our progress south was slow, as the jungle was thick and required much chopping. At times, Charles and I even shouldered our guns and assisted with the work. By the time we had progressed about a mile, we had shot a reasonable collection of birds, including two species of parrots I had not collected before and a new pigeon. We had not seen any mammals, probably due to the excessive noise of our chopping efforts. However, suddenly I turned around to see that a large rat-like creature had approached us on the path we had just chopped. The animal had a hairless tail and long, pointed snout, and I recognized it as a bandicoot, although an unusually large type. Bandicoots are ground-dwelling marsupials, and several species have been found on islands of the Malay Archipelago, but none were known to occur in this part of New Guinea, so it was almost certainly a new species. I knew other species of bandicoots to be smaller than this, perhaps twelve inches from snout to base of the tail, but this one appeared to be twice that length. Most unusual was that it seemed to hold no fear of man, and it approached without hesitation. Thinking that perhaps it had simply not seen us, I told Charles to shoot it before it discovered its mistake and ran away. It was an easy shot and a clean kill.