Papuan’S Endurance.

21 Hours in Sea.

THE Samarai correspondent of “The Sydney Morning Herald” sent to his journal the following remarkable ac count of a Papuan native’s endurance and its unpleasant sequel.

“Anbaniel, who is a half-caste, set out in a small cutter in a rough sea with a native named Aukuka. Aukuka was leaning over the stern in order to secure a dinghy, and over-balanced. He fell into the sea and disappeared. Anbaniel, unable to handle the cutter, ran before the wind, eventually striking a coral reef, from which he waded to shore, re porting to the Roman Catholic priest on Sideia Island that Aukuka had been drowned.

“Twenty-one hours after the mishap, Aukuka, grasping oars, was washed ashore on Itou Island little the worse, except that he had been temporarily blinded and his skin was hard from the effects of the salt water. He said that the tide carried him almost on Mawa neuna Island, and then turned back, tak ing him towards the scene of the acci dent. It then turned again, carrying him throughout the night towards Itou.

“The sequel is a letter received by the magistrate at Samarai to-day from An baniel, offering to come to Samarai and make a statement, since the native people are accusing him of pushing Au kuka overboard, but official action is un likely.”