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[Page 87]
about a week at a time and the men have been able to resume duties little the worse for their experience.
It was the Major's intention to leave for Finsch Hafen tonight at midnight in the "Davapia", but when I told him of the sea that was running (we had a lovely time in the "Lili") he decided to wait till daylight. On our run back our dinghy broke adrift & things were pretty rapid for a while trying to pick it up again. It was the biggest sea I had been in in the "Lili", & she behaved very well, albeit she jumped about "considerable". (re Commd. Beresford)
Sun 22nd 10 am : We had Divisions at 9.30 this morning a-la-Navy. Just prior to this I had a visit from Mr. Penn, who was accompanied by his wife & two children. He had come to ask our help in quietening the natives on the island of Malamal, who are getting out of hand. I promised to go down in the "Lili" this afternoon. Mr. Penn, who is Dutch, has a plantation about two miles from here.
7 pm : The best afternoon I have put in since leaving Sydney, a combination of business & pleasure. We went to Mr Penn's plantation in the "Lili" where he and Dr Kloster came aboard & we then proceeded to Malamal. The natives were in full warpaint, but the Tul-tul (chief) was away ("gone along bush"). We ordered them to being him back; this they proceeded to do by beating on the tom-tom. While awaiting his arrival we visited his house & also entered the devil house where the natives carried out a few of their sorceries for our benefit. Growing impatient of the Tul tul's tardiness we harangued such of the natives as were present & threatened to cook (set fire to) their devil's house unless they quietened down, & ordered the Tul tul to visit me at Alexis Hafen. We then returned to the plantation; on our way we passed the Tul tul making all haste to return