t our three boats lay off a little, so as not to arouse suspicion, a
teacher and myself went ashore. With devout gratitude I heard that both
teachers and natives were ignorant of the massacre. In less than an hour
the two teachers and their families were safely ensconced in their whale-
boat, taking along with them but a minimum of their property, according
to the orders given. By these means the chiefs and natives of Aroma were
left in utter ignorance as to the cause of our erratic movements, nor did
they seem to suspect anything.

At Kerepunu we experienced considerable noise and worry. Here, too, we
judged it prudent to remove very little belonging to the deceased
teacher. At Hula, my house had been entered, but the few things stolen
were mostly returned. Here, too, we have left goods, until some definite
course be decided upon. Strange to say, at Hula, where we expected the
least trouble and danger, there we had the greatest; indeed, on one or
two occasions, affairs assumed a rather serious aspect. The main idea
present in the native mind was to take advantage of us in our weakness
and sorrow. After a very brief stay at Hula, we left there on the 15th,
reaching Port Moresby the following day; and on the 17th I left for
Thursday Island.

The natives of Hood Bay attribute this massacre to the influence of
Koapina, the Aroma chief, he having assured the Kalo people that
foreigners might be massacred with impunity, citing as an illustration
the massacre at Aroma last July, and pointing out at the same time the
great fame that had thereby accrued to his own people. The Kalo people
have not been slow in acting upon his advice. I visited Hula and
Kerepunu within six weeks of the massacre, and was so impressed with the
peaceful bearing of the people in both places that I should have been
glad to have re-occupied both stations immediately.

I should have visited Kalo, but was afraid of compromising the mission,
as it is possible the natives may be punished for the outrage. I fear we
are not altogether free from blame; the teachers are often very
indiscreet in their dealings with the natives, and not over-careful in
what they say; there has also, perhaps, sometimes been a niggard regard
to expense on our part. A very few pounds spent at a station like Kalo
in the first years would, I believe, prevent much trouble, and probably
murder. The Kalo natives felt that Hula and Kerepunu got the most
tobacco and tomaha