New GUINEA

New GUINEA, or Papua, a long and narrow island of the East Indies, which is yet but imperfectly known. It was supposed to be connected with New Holland, until Captain Cook discovered the strait which separates them. New Guinea, including Papua, its north-western part (which according to Bougainville's conjecture is separated from it by a strait), reaches from the equator to the 12th degree of south latitude, and from 131 to 150 degrees east longitude; in one part it does not appear to be above 50 miles broad. It was first visited by an European ship in 1529. Saavedra, a Portuguese, who made the discovery of the north-west part of this country, called it Terra de Papuan, or Papor. Van Schouten, a Dutch discoverer, afterwards gave the name of New Guinea to its south-western part. Admiral Roggewain also touched here; and before him Dampier, 11th January 1700. Captain Cook made the coast of New Guinea, in latitude 6 degrees 15 minutes, longitude 138 east, on the 3d of September, and landed in the pinnace, accompanied by Mr Banks, Dr Solander, nine of the ship's crew, and servants well armed, and leaving two seamen to take care of the boat, advanced some little way up the country; but coming to the skirts of a thick wood, they judged it prudent to proceed no farther, lest they should fall into an ambush of the natives, and their retreat to the boat be cut off. Having advanced about a quarter of a mile from the boat, three Indians rushed out of the wood with a hideous shout; they threw their darts, and showed such a hostile disposition, that the party, to prevent the destruction of these people, returned to the boat, as they had no intention forcibly to invade their country, either to gratify their appetites or curiosity, and it was evident nothing could be done upon friendly terms. When they got on board the boat, they rowed along the shore, and the number of Indians assembled seemed to be between 60 and 100. They made much the same appearance as the New Hollanders, being stark naked, and their hair cropped short. All the while they were shouting

Guinea. flouting defiance, and throwing something out of their hand which burnt exactly like gunpowder, but made no report; what these fires were, or for what purpose intended, could not be guessed at; those who discharged them had in their hands a short piece of stick, possibly a hollow cane, which they swung sideways from them, and immediately fire and smoke issued, exactly resembling the discharge of a musket, and of no longer duration. This wonderful phenomenon was observed from the ship; and the deception was so great, that the people on board thought they had fire-arms; and even in the boat, if they had not been so near as that they must have heard the report, if there had been any, they should have thought they had been firing volleys. After looking at them attentively for some time, without taking any notice of their flashing and vociferation, the sailors fired some muskets over their heads. Upon hearing the balls rattle among the trees, they walked leisurely away, and the boat returned to the ship. Upon examining some weapons which the natives had thrown, they were found to be light darts, about four feet long, very ill made, of a reed or bamboo cane, and pointed with hard wood in which there were many bars. They were discharged with great force, for at 60 yards distance they went beyond the party; but in what manner they were thrown could not be exactly seen. But the general opinion was, that they were thrown with a stick in the manner practised by the New Hollanders.

The land here is very low, as is every other part of the coast; but it is covered with a luxuriance of wood and herbage that can scarcely be conceived. Here the cocoa-nut, plantain, and bread-fruit, flourish in the highest perfection.

We are very little acquainted with the natural history of this country; but its zoology is worthy of attention, from its striking and romantic nature. It seems to be the peculiar residence of the beautiful and singular birds of Paradise, of which Mr Pennant has enumerated about 12 species. They are conjectured to breed here, but are generally taken in the neighbouring island of Arroo, to which they retire during the wet monsoon, in flocks of 30 or 40. Their cry, during their flight, has a strong resemblance to that of a starling; but when surprised with a strong gale, they croak like ravens, and mount into the superior regions of the air. Their food seems to be berries, or, as some think, nutmegs and butterflies. They are shot with blunt arrows, or taken with viscum or bird-lime. Here likewise are most elegant parrots and lorics; and the crowned pigeon is said to be equal in size to a turkey.

Added to these are the islands of Waijoo and Salwatti, Arroo and Timorland, the first of which is of considerable magnitude, containing about 100,000 inhabitants; the second is also populous, but they are more ferocious than the people of Waijoo; the production of the third is chiefly sago, and the inhabitants sell captives at Banda, which they seize on the main land. Timorland is of considerable extent, but so very little known to geographers, that no particular account can be given of it.