Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/238

192 from the mainland in their canoes very quickly. Their thick hair is often bleached with lime, they are gorgeous in big ears, feathers, shells, and nose ornaments, and decorate their faces, bodies, and legs with red, black, yellow, and white stripes, so that they are ornamental adjuncts to the scenery. On the mainland is, or was, a Mission Station, Leming, but between natives and fever it does not go ahead much. I am rather at sea here as to where exactly the Mission is. Tumleo has a Catholic Mission, but where Tumleo is I am not sure, as there is an archipelago of islands and coral reefs here.

Seleo is a flat coral reef clothed with cocoanut palms, and is, as I said, a New Huinea Co. station. Two Germans, Herr Behse and a carpenter, live on it. They are clearing and planting it.

As we approached this island a house or two and a small pier came into view. We went nearer and nearer. I happened to be leaning over the side, and looked first with surprise at the rickety little pier, then at the clearly visible bottom of the sea—how shallow it was, and getting still more shallow!—surely we were not going to that pier—why, we were nearly ashore! Suddenly there was a commotion on the bridge, wonder on every face, and we went full speed astern. Another minute would have seen us high and dry on Seleo! Some one on the bridge had been asleep, surely. We whispered together, but said nothing openly. We came to anchor quite a long way out. Next day I did make a remark on this episode, but every one grew so embarrassed that I changed the subject.

We had nearly gone ashore, and if we had we would have been there for many months ere rescue came! The natives would have collected, done for us all if they could, and burnt the Stettin. However, it did not happen.