Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/183

Rh which is a mere scattered collection of a few wooden houses and iron stores. It is not laid out in any way as a sort of encouragement to people to inhabit it or make a town of it. There are no shops—there is not a tailor, shoemaker, baker, or anythingelse in all the German possessions—merely here a store of the New Guinea Co. Every single thing wanted must come from Singapore, Australia, or from Germany. Anything to be repaired must be sent away. It is surprising to find this, the residence of the Government, such a primitive place, and I do not understand the reason. There has been time enough for the place to have become a regular town. I believe some attempt has been made at a road for a short distance inland, and there is one through Ralum, but at Herbertshöhe is nothing at all. There is a native hospital—a shed with bunks. I went through it and, disregarding doctors, gave the few patients cigarettes, and they were delighted. I then went into the New Guinea Co.'s store, but could find nothing to buy. Then I went to Frau Kolbe's store and bought a collection of New Guinea weapons, idols, and curios. These stores are full of red cloth, red paint; and red beads for trading with the natives.

I walked about all over the place and amongst the natives, then, joining the others, we lunched at the hotel—for there is one—with Herr and Frau Wolff, and had a long yarn about many things. The market was going on in the road outside, so I went out with Frau Wolff to inspect everything they had and witness some bargaining. She, of course; had to bargain like this for everything.

They have about sixty half-clad native police—and revel in drilling them.

Mr. Forsayth took me into his office to introduce me to his mother, the famous Queen Emma, or Frau Kolbe, to whom a presentation is de rigueur.