Two Years Among the Savages of New Guinea.: With Introductory Notes on North Queensland

In Short

This book offers a traveler’s chronicle of two years spent among the indigenous populations of New Guinea and North Queensland during the late 19th century. Part travelogue and part observational study, it details the author's efforts in trading, gold prospecting, and navigating the treacherous, reef-strewn waters of the Pacific. By documenting local customs, dialects, and the expansion of colonial commercial interests, the work serves as a primary window into a historical era defined by rapid territorial expansion, maritime risk, and the collision of vastly different cultural systems.

The Story

The narrative begins not in the wilds of New Guinea, but in the rugged environment of North Queensland, Australia. The author establishes the setting through the lens of colonial industry, discussing the economic pressures on sugar planters and the hazards of the bush, where isolation could prove fatal. This preliminary section frames the author’s perspective: one that prioritizes commercial viability, resource management, and a firm, often unyielding, belief in the necessity of order and European expansion.

Transitioning to the Pacific, the author sets out on the schooner Spitfire, marking the beginning of a two-year residency in the islands near the China Straits. The journey is defined by the constant threat of the sea—evidenced by the wreck of the Papua and the navigation of dangerous coral reefs. Upon arriving at Samarai and surrounding islands, the author settles into a life of trading copra and pearl-shell. The daily existence is structured by the rhythms of the south-east trade winds and the complex, often tense, interactions with local populations.

The arc of the story follows the author’s dual role as a trader and an amateur explorer. He participates in the search for gold on the island of Sud-Est, observing the physical toll of mining on the landscape and the resulting health crises among the diggers. Throughout these experiences, the narrative frequently shifts between the practicalities of surviving the climate—with its pervasive malaria—and the observation of native life, including their complex canoe-building techniques, agricultural methods, and social structures.

Tension permeates the account, often centered on the perceived threat of violence from the "savages." The author recounts stories of massacres, such as the killing of Fred Miller, and expresses frustration at what he perceives as a lack of punitive action by colonial authorities. This culminates in a judicial trial at Samarai, which the author views as a necessary, if late, assertion of British law. The narrative concludes with the author reflecting on the inevitable development of the region. Despite the immense challenges of the environment, he remains convinced that the introduction of British capital and industry will eventually transform New Guinea into a settled, productive territory. The final pages shift toward a more clinical observation of geography and flora, leaving the reader with the impression of a land awaiting the orderly hand of civilization to unlock its latent potential.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The author sets the scene by departing from the established mining and sugar-growing districts of Queensland. He quickly transitions to the high seas, emphasizing the dangers of reef navigation and the atmospheric, often dreamlike quality of life aboard a schooner in the tropics.

Arrival and trade Upon reaching the China Straits, the author establishes a base of operations at Samarai. He describes the geography of the surrounding islands with the precision of a navigator, focusing on the suitability of these harbors for future commercial development.

Cultural observation The author provides a detailed, if detached, survey of native customs, including their languages, religious practices, and craftsmanship. He uses these observations to categorize the populations, often contrasting them with his own cultural standards.

The gold prospect The search for wealth drives the author to remote islands like Sud-Est, where he witnesses the harsh realities of a gold rush. He documents the failures of these expeditions and the physical dangers posed by both the environment and the local inhabitants.

Conflict and law The narrative turns toward the administration of justice, detailing the trial and execution of men accused of killing traders. This section underscores the author's belief that firm, uncompromising authority is required to secure the region for white settlers.

The final outlook The book closes with a return to the mainland and a synthesis of the author’s findings. He offers a vision of a future New Guinea, thoroughly mapped, cultivated, and integrated into the global economy, providing a vocabulary list as a final tool for future travelers.

The People

The book is populated by figures who represent the various facets of colonial life. The author, W. D. Pitcairn, acts as the central consciousness; he is a man of the Royal Geographical Society who views the world through a lens of pragmatic utility and a firm, unwavering belief in the superiority of British governance. Beside him is Tokaiakus, a native companion described as a man of small stature with a "beatific" smile. The author treats Tokaiakus with a blend of paternalism and genuine curiosity, often using him as a barometer for how "civilized" behaviors might be adopted or understood.

Then there is the figure of the Judge, a personification of the newly arrived British administrative order. He is the arbiter of life and death, representing the transition from lawless frontier to an organized colony. Finally, there are the unnamed traders and planters, such as the managers of the German company in Mioko, who embody the commercial spirit of the age. These men are driven by the search for profit in copra and coffee, and their interactions with the author highlight the competitive yet collaborative nature of European interests in the Pacific. Each of these figures is defined by their desire to control or at least withstand the untamed environment, whether through the barrel of a rifle, the construction of a plantation, or the maintenance of a maritime trade route.

In Its Own Voice

"There is nothing to my mind more intoxicating than being on a well-found vessel, with a spanking breeze, surrounded by the boundless ocean, and enjoying the companionship of jovial fellows."

The author describes the initial thrill of sailing through the Pacific before encountering the realities of island life.

"So long as savages believe that you have power over them, you have nothing to fear."

This assertion serves as the author's primary philosophy regarding the maintenance of safety and authority when interacting with indigenous groups.

What It's Really About

The central argument of the book is the belief that New Guinea is a vast, resource-rich territory that remains in its infancy, waiting for the application of British capital and governance to reach its potential. The author treats the environment not as a place to be understood in its own right, but as a series of obstacles—scrub, malaria, and "diabolical" inhabitants—that must be navigated or cleared to allow for progress. Beneath the plot of trading and prospecting lies an anxiety about the tenuous nature of civilization in a landscape that seems, to the author, to resist human order. The text questions how a small number of white men can maintain authority over a vast population, ultimately answering that it requires constant vigilance, the rule of law, and an unyielding refusal to show fear.

Why Read It Today

This book is a rewarding read for those interested in the raw, unfiltered perspectives of 19th-century colonial exploration. You will find it valuable if you are drawn to the history of the Pacific, the mechanics of maritime trade, or the evolution of travel writing. The prose is clear and direct, capturing the heat, the humidity, and the singular, often perilous, focus of an explorer on the frontier.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-typical attitudes that permeate the text. The author’s view of indigenous peoples is frequently reductive and framed entirely by his own colonial, ethnocentric expectations. You will encounter language and justifications for violence that reflect the harsh, often brutal, realities of European expansionism. The book does not attempt to offer a balanced view of the cultures it describes; it is a document of its time, providing a window into how the author perceived the world. If you can read with a critical eye, the book offers a fascinating, albeit uncomfortable, glimpse into the mindset that sought to map, possess, and transform the Pacific during the late Victorian era. What stays with you is the sheer tenacity of the author and the haunting sense of a world being rapidly and permanently altered.