Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/218

172 very clean and comfortable, though it seemed odd to have a number of beds for married people in the one room. Then we went to the boat-slip, where a vessel was being repaired and the New Guinea Co.'s steamboat, the Johann Albrecht, was lying. This latter has one of its masts as a funnel; I do not think I ever saw that before. They have another boat, the Herzogin Elizabeth.

Then a visit to Herr Kohler, where we had cocktails on the verandah—he had a nice, comfortable house. Captain Dunbar, a Herr Markgraf, and King Peter joined us there. King Peter greeted the Captain with a joke, the first time they had spoken since the row at Herbertshöhe. There was a momentary embarrassment, the Captain responded but coolly, so, as the angels were nervous about intruding, I rushed in with a silly question, which created a laugh at my expense, and all was right again. I trust the angels will remember they owe me something, for why should I do their work for nothing? King Peter liked and respected the Captain, I knew he was sore about having to part on unfriendly terms, and I had all along been trying to make peace without attracting attention.

Herr Kohler looked very well, but his brother, who is with us now as a passenger en route for a change of climate, looks miserably ill. I used my camera on every one and everything, and here on the verandah on some natives laden with the beautiful blue crown pigeons.

[I may as well say here that I took numbers of the most interesting, and in some cases unique, photographs whilst on this pilgrimage. When they were developed at Singapore it was found there was quite a small puncture in the camera, but enough to let in light that spoilt them all! This was a real disappointment and misfortune.]