Journal of the expedition for the exploration of the Fly River / by L.M. D'Albertis.

  • D'Albertis, Luigi Maria, 1841-1901.
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Journal of the expedition for the exploration of the Fly River / by L.M. D'Albertis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    New Guinea. In the houses I found a stone, some fresh-water shells, fish bones, and pigs’ skulls. The houses looked very rudely constructed, and it is very probable they were only used as places for shelter. Close by I observed some small platforms, on which the natives preserve their provisions against the hungry dogs and pigs ; such platforms are also used by the natives of Yule Island and Hall Sound. A short distance further on I saw a few more houses, protected by a side wall made of leaves ; they were pro- bably used by the women. We left the village at 3.15 p.m., and anchored at 6 p.m., but we did not proceed any distance from the village, the wood we procured there being wet. We had a fine and calm day. June 1: Left at 8.10 a.m. and anchored at 2 p.m. The engineer reported that, from the quality and state of the wood, we could not go any further to-day. The banks at this part were very low, and covered with long coarse grass, of which the Coix was very prominent, and some straggling trees, which appeared to be a species of acacia. We saw a small channel, and consi- dered it probable that we had anchored on the north side of an island formed by this creek. At this place the river assumes a much more broad appearance, and the presence of a number of aquatic birds suggests to me that we are not far distant from a lagoon.—June 2 : We left at 7 a.m., and steamed until 5 30 p.m., when we anchored, during which time we. ran thirty orthirty-two miles, advancing somewhat in a northern latitude ; but the direc- tion of the river seems to trend to the west. The banks of the river are still low. and are now only covered by Coix and other coarse grasses, or a very poor vegetation; still here and there some clumps of beautiful trees would appear. The acacia was also seen occasionally, but was not plentiful. The bread-fruit tree (Artocarpus) was more common on the banks, and also a species of taro. We also saw a few cocoanut trees, and I observed that those bearing fruit had their leaves hanging/over the river cut down in the middle. This, I suppose, was done by the natives, so that they could perceive at a distance which trees were bearing fruit. Also passed some huts, and saw some traps for catching fish at several places on the bank, especially on the left side. A short distance inland we also discovered a plantation of cocoanut trees, and observed some smoke. No doubt there is a village, but we saw nothing of the natives.—June 3: Left at 10 a m., and anchored at 5 p.m. On three different points a quantity of smoke was seen, and about 2 p.m, we came upon a small grove of cocoanut trees on the right bank. Behind it the ground is a little more elevated, and covered with coarse grass; and a short distance beyond a dense forest was seen. We landed here and got some cocoanuts. About half a mile from the cocoanut groove we met a canoe with a boy, and apparently also a woman. They did not appear to be frightened, but, pulling away, entered a lagoon on the right, and disappeared among the reeds; some houses were seen in that direction. A little further on another lagoon was