It is about 8 miles long by 3 broad. There are seven islands of this group, Merite being one, and over all King Peter holds sway. He pointed out everything to me with pride, though he was somewhat subdued after the talking to he had from me, and he and the captain would not speak. Deslac has two very good harbours; one of them, Peters-hafen, is the residence of King Peter.
Captain Jorgensen, whom we had embarked at Herbertshöhe, a Scandinavian, as his name implies, had traded much in this region with his schooner and was full of information. He used to buy the cowrie shells from natives at one part of New Britain in cocoanuts—so much a cocoanutful—and sell them to natives of another part, who strung them on string as money, a fathom of this money being worth 4 marks, and at present 3 marks 50. It is called dewarra. Next year they say this is to be done away with and the natives taught to use the new bird of paradise coinage. It will therefore be necessary for the British New Guinea people to learn the use of our money also.
One side of Mérite for some unknown reason is fever free. Dampier Straits lie between New Britain and New Guinea. The natives there are noted for their cleverness with the sling, the stone being put in with the toes. Dampier sailed through these straits which bear his name in I700. Other straits between Waigou and Batanta are also called Dampier Straits.
There was a most brilliant sunset, rendering the scene simply superb. During it we passed Long Isle, Pollin Isle, and others—in fact went through a sort of wonderland of sea and isles, all aglow in roseate beauty and not easily to be described.
Early next morning we lay at anchor off Stephansort, in Astrolabe Bay, on the mainland
