At home they
would say, why, they are being converted; see the speedy triumph! Alas!
they are but savages, pure and simple, rejoicing in the prospect of an
unlimited supply of tobacco, beads, and tomahawks.

Paura, a chief from Motu Lavao, is in. The people, it seems, told him,
being _helaka_ day, I could not meet him, and he did not come up hill. He
is rather a nice-looking fellow, with a mild, open countenance. Kone
told him to tell the Paitana natives, who murdered James and Thorngren,
that, if they wished peace and friendship, they must come in here and sue
for it; that I could not first go to them, as they were the offenders and
murderers.

Arrangements were at once made for erecting a wooden house at Delena,
measuring thirty-six feet by eighteen feet, material for which was easily
procurable. On the 30th of May, Queen Koloka, her husband, and a number
of men and women came in. The Prince Consort first came up, all over
smiles, followed in half an hour by his wife and maids. After formally
receiving her, I presented Mrs. Lawes's present. I unloosed the parcel,
and turned maid-of-honour in real waiting. Her Majesty was chewing betel-
nut, but that did not prevent my putting the dress on; first attempt all
wrong, the front became the back, and the back the front. At length I
succeeded, and, after fastening the dress, tied a pretty kerchief round
the royal neck. There was great excitement, in every mouth a thumb, a
few moments of silence, and then every soul spoke and shouted. It was
amusing to see her husband, uncles, maids, old men and women, young men
and maidens, gather round the royal presence, wonder and admire, and then
shout, _Oh misi haine O_! (Mrs. Lawes). Ah, Koloka, I wonder how you are
going to get out of that dress to-night; will you understand buttons,
hooks, and eyes?

During my stay at Delena, one of those warlike incursions by hostile
tribes so common in New Guinea took place. My presence and influence
happily brought about an early and satisfactory settlement of the
dispute. I extract the following from my journal:--

_June_ 2_nd_.--Our friends seem troubled, and their house-building
earnestness is somewhat abated. I find they have heard that the Lolo
tribe intend making a raid on them. Is it on them, or on us? Their
great hope is that we shall use our guns, and so frighten the invaders. I
tell them that we cannot do this; that we are men of peace, and have no
wish to frighten