Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/179

Rh heat inside under the iron roof was overpowering. There is quite a village of buildings round it—the most imposing settlement in German New Guinea. Quite a large new house was in process of building for the Bishop's palace—for the church is, properly speaking, the cathedral. There were various separate buildings for the missionaries, Sisters, and children, all very airy, bright, clean, and well kept. The numerous children seemed very happy. Sister Amigunda and the rest told me they were quite delighted with their new home. The hospital contained only one patient, a dear little boy, a son of King Peter's. He has also a little daughter being educated here, the dearest little princess of the French Isles you ever saw! She was so delighted to see her father again, and adopted me on the spot, coming of her own accord to put her hand in mine, and sticking to me most trustfully all the time. She had beautiful dark eyes, was very pretty and taking, and I am so terribly weak about children that I was taken captive at once. Indeed, all these native or half-caste children were very bright, pretty, and graceful.

The Mother Superior and the Sisters—several of whom, from Sydney, were English or Australians—entertained us at their house and were all so cheery. The schoolgirls—nice, happy-looking girls—sang songs for us very well. The Sisters wore cool and becoming white and blue robes, and altogether it was hard to believe we were in wild, remote New Guinea amongst the cannibals.

Here also were several native women captured in the Admiralty Isles by the Moewe at the time of the fight, and brought away as a punishment for the murders done there. The Sisters had clothed them fully, but the poor wretches looked most unhappy and could not be reconciled