Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/207

Rh away as I saw something better. Then I had always to turn back to help the others to lift the “railway” over the broken-down places, which were frequent. Some streams were bridged, but the car was always helped tenderly over, whilst the bullocks were unyoked, led through the water, and re-yoked the other side. It was not an express, and we understood why the Germans had complained about it having no sleeping carriage.

At last, however, I reached an open space near Erema, where in a plantation some “long Marys”—that is, native women were working. One of these, a particularly repulsive-looking lady, at once began to flirt with me and made enticing invitations that I should join her—I, however, made warning gestures to the approaching railway, and the other women yelled with laughter. The railway caught a glimpse of this, arrived in a state of giggle, and then exploded at a near view of the charming siren.

At Erema it was broilingly hot, and we all sat on the end of the pier and waved frantically to the Stettin for a boat. By the side of the small pier a number of perfectly nude natives and some Chinese were engaged in rolling huge heavy logs of timber into the water. They formed a picturesque group against the green palms behind. These Chinese are Cantonese (they must be from the province of Canton, as I saw none like them in Canton city), and are very tall, well-made men, their yellow smooth skin and blue loin-cloth making a strong contrast with the brown of the natives. One of these latter after being in the water lit a small fire on the sand and stood astride over it, having with manifest satisfaction a smoke bath. He was a sight for the gods. Meanwhile, we coo-ee-ed, shouted, and waved white umbrellas to the Stettin for a boat, but they took no notice.