Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/126

94 “Pretty Cocky,” as we sarcastically call it, attacks the calves of your legs. With all his talk and orders I have seen the Captain trying to curry favour with it.

It is generally very warm and close, yet we have had sometimes very heavy seas, with waves breaking over us. We passed Rossell and Adele Isles, part of the Louisiade Archipelago off the south-east coast of British New Guinea. Rossell Isle is large and very hilly. A ship carrying Chinese to Cooktown in Queensland was once wrecked on it. Three hundred Chinese were landed on the island. When, later, a steamer was sent to fetch them away, only three survivors were found, roaming about the rocks and quite mad, the natives having killed and eaten the rest. Adele Isle has great cocoanut palm groves.

The Germans call this sea the Stille Meer, and it generally bears out its title, and some days have been exquisite. Passing the Lauchlan Isles, we, however, had a very sudden squall of wind and rain. These Lauchlan Isles are a low-lying group covered with palms. A friend of King Peter's lived on them for a time, and at present they are inhabited by three white men, copra-growing. The natives are said to be a fine race. I asked the Captain why he did not call at these islands and get the trade, but he said it was not their wish or intention to be of any use to any British possession.

Copra is, as you doubtless know, cocoanut cut up in strips. It is packed in bags and sent to Europe, where it is pressed for oil, the refuse making good manure. King Peter told me he lately got £10, 10s, a ton for 300 tons of his.

The ninth day out from Sydney, about midday, we came in sight of the high, bold mountains