"Please Explain”

By H. Dexter.

SAND his wife were running a trad • ing station near Hula, in the Central Division of Papua.

He had purchased an exceptionally fine double canoe from a native, who was an artist in the art of making them. It was coveted by every native in the district.

An arrangement was arrived at by which the natives were given the loan of the canoe, provided they handed over a small percentage of their catch of turtle shell to S. All went well, for a time, until the natives failed to pay the agreed tribute.

S. decided to visit a trading station a short distance along the coast. The canoe was brought along. One of the hulls had been split, and the natives had replaced it with another of their own. After the trade goods had been loaded, a crowd of natives were seen by S. to be unlashing the temporary hull, and about to replace it with the split one.

As he urgently needed the canoe that day he endeavoured to stop them. While doing this, he tapped the knuckles of those who would not desist. He then was seized by a number of them, and held under water.

His wife saw this, and realised that unless something drastic was done she would be a widow.

Anything in the way of firearms scared her almost out of her life. Nevertheless, she seized a revolver that was in the house. It was quite harmless, as it was unloaded.

Running down the beach, she pointed the weapon at the natives. Her husband was immediately released, and the natives ran away.

In due course, the natives concerned were sentenced to three months’ for then share in the affair. But the little lady was asked officially to “please explain’’ her action in pointing a firearm at the natives.

One can only hope that her explanation that she did it to save her husband’s life was satisfactory to the official mind.