James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770: No. 344

page 344

New Guinea to Batavia
Upon his (can't read)they are said to be a people of good morals Virtuous and chaste each man having only one wife which he keeps for life. Fornication and adultery is hardly known among them. When a great man marrys he makes (can't read) to all his wifes relations of European and other (can't read) to the value of 100 Rix Dollars this custom the Dutch East India Company find it their (can't read) to encourage. They speak a language parculiar to themselves into which the dutch have (can't read) the new Testaments to be translated and have introduced it with the use of letters and writing among them by this means several hundred of them have been converted to christianity therefore some heathens and others of no religion shall (can't read) they all stick with the strict rules of Morality.
Religion is written in the column beside this paragraph.
They all both men and women young and old chew of the beatle leaf, arcacia nut and a sort of white lime which (can't read) is made from (can't read) this has such an effect upon the teeth that very few even of the young people have hardly any left in their head and those they have are as black as ink. Their houses are built posts about 4 feet from the ground. We asked the reason why they built them so and was told that it was only custom. They are however certainly the cooler for it. They are thatched with palm leaves. The floors and sides are boarded.
The man who resides upon this island on behalf of the Dutch east India Company is a German by birth is name in Johan Christopher (can't read) is hard (can't read) upon what footing he is here he is up for a Governor that the natives dare do nothing without his consent and yet he can (can't read) sort of burials with (can't read) either in his own or that of the Companys name nor can it be a place of either known or (can't read) he is the only white man upon the island  and has received these ever since it has been under the direction of the Dutch which is about 10 years. He is allowed 50 slaves/natives of the island that attend upon him then belong to and are maintained by the Company. He does the (can't read) of the island (can't read) in 2 months but on (can't read). He did not tell us when he makes there (can't read) he carries with him a certain quantity of spirit to treat the guests men with, which he ways he is obliged to look well after otherwise they would steal it and get drunk and (can't read) time he told us that he never knew a theft committed in the island  but some of the natives themselves contradicted him in this by stealing from us an axe however from this behaviour is in general  I am  of opinion that they are but seldom guilty of these crimes. This going round the island once in two months is more likely to see that the natives make the necessary preparations for fulfilling their engagement with the dutch and to see that the large boats or small (can't read) are taken proper care of which the Dutch keep in all the bays of this island in order to collect and carry the grain and to the ships in which comes (can't read).