Plucky N.G. Native

IN the accompanying picture is Esum (or Machel, as he is known in Madang), the N. Guinea native who showed great courage

and fortitude when Captain Bernard Mc- Grath was attacked and killed by hostile natives in the Ramu district in February last.

Esum was the “boss boy” of McGrath’s natives and was one of the natives who remained with him when the attackers surrounded the camp.

When McGrath decided to make for Mr. Dugan’s camp, on the Dunantina River, he was accompanied by Esum, who assisted him when he fell wounded by a tribesman’s arrow. Displaying great pluck, Esum picked up Mr. McGrath’s rifle and tried to repel the attackers, and succeeded in hitting one of them. How ever, Mr. McGrath was again hit, and died.

Leaving McGrath, Esum ran for Mr.

Dugan’s camp, but was wounded in the knee by an arrow. He managed to extract it, however, and continued on to the camp, where he in formed Mr. Dugan of Mr. McGrath’s death. After the affray, Esum returned

to his village, near Madang, and has now completely recovered from the wound.

Previously, he had been a police boy and had been recruited for the Purari Allu vial Company’s expedition by Mr. R. C.

Macgregor, of Madang.