A True Love Story Of New Guinea

By P. Deutscher, Lutheran Missionary, of Finschhafen, T.N.G.

KANIK was a Papuan girl, belonging to the village of Quabu, near Si alum, on the southern coast of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea mainland.

At the time she was born, the various villages were still constantly at war with one another. No girl dared go alone to the spring to fetch water; there was the ever-present danger of her being kid napped by men from neighbouring vil lages. One of these foes would be sure to compel her to become his wife and then, eventually, her children would be the enemies of the village she originally belonged to.

So no risks were taken during the time when Kanik was still small.

But times changed, and changed rap idly. Kanik turned out to be a bright, intelligent girl; lame, alas, but her energy compensated her for that. She attended a mission school, and learned to read and write in her mother tongue.

She was always cheerful and happy.

As with all New Guinea girls, the question of marriage early in life be came one of concern. She did not want just any boy, and most decidedly not one who could neither read or write.

At school, she had been noticed by Laka, a boy from a neighbouring vil lage. Kanik had also noticed his smart ness, but up till now had given no sign of her feelings.

One day, however, a drastic declar ation of love was made to her. As she Was carrying an armful of wood, a peb

ble was thrown at her. It was meant to hit her. She knew this only too well, especially when she turned and no ticed Laka strolling to his work as though he were not aware of the fact that the pebble had reached the girl’s heart.

Laka’s deed had been seen by others, and he dared not stay at school any longer. He signed on as an indentured labourer on a schooner, and became a cook boy, and thus sailed the seas. Just occasionally the schooner called at Si alum. Now and again he managed to send Kanik a letter.

Various young men sought out Kanik’s uncles and asked for the hand in mar riage of this lame, but clever girl. Ac cording to the New Guinea custom of old, it is the girl’s uncles who have to provide her with a husband. They tried to nnd out whether Kanik would com ply with their wishes, and marry a man of their choosing, taking care not to let her know too much.

But she knew what was being pro posed for her and she would not con sent to being married according to the old custom, and against her inclinations.

Horrified, she ran back to school, and waited and waited, working secretly to gain her aim. As long as she was at the mission school, she knew she would be safe and her uncles would keep quiet and not force her to marry a man she could not love. She had also found out that never would her uncles consent to her marrying a man who, according to the old custom, belonged to their enem ies.

She paid occasional visits to her vil lage, but these were pleasant neither to her or her kinsfolk. Eventually, she bowed her head and said no more, but her intentions were more than ever to battle on and win. Laka was informed of this.

At night, Laka's brothers sat by the fire and talked things over. They decided to help their little brother. They would fight for him, according to civilised methods.

Word was sent to Quabu village. They would tell the kiap (Government patrol officer) about it when on his rounds.

In those days, to tell the kiap and ask him to interfere in matrimonial matters was such an unheard of thing that Ka nik’s uncles kept on peacefully smoking their leaf tobacco. They would not be scared by such a threat. No one could seriously think of asking the kiap to intervene in such a matter; it was en tirely their own affair.

Even if Kanik’s brothers did ask the kiap, the Quabu people would unanim ously reply in the negative, when he put the question to them.

Eventually, the kiap arrived and com menced his duties at Quabu. As the vil large people lined up, they saw Laka’s brothers turn up also. The former were not afraid. They firmly believed the kiap would put the matter of Kanik’s proposed marriage before them and they would say “No”, even should Laka’s brothers do the unexpected and absurd thing.

The latter did, however, boldly ask the kiap for his ruling, telling him that Laka wanted Kanik of Quabu for his wife. Kanik was asked to appear, and not her uncles, to the latter’s constern ation. She was asked: “Do you like Laka?” She plucked up all her courage and unflinchingly, in front of all her peo ple, bowed her head in assent. That was the finish.

Triumphantly, Laka’s brothers escort ed the girl to her new home, leaving her uncles speechless, for the time, with rage. A fortnight she lived with her future husband’s relatives.

ONCE again the schooner paid a brief visit to Sialum. Laka, on paying a visit to his village, found her with his relatives. It was a glorious day for them. He had to go to Madang once more, and he promised to bring her frocks, lava-lavas and empty bottles on his return. If possible, it made the happy girl still happier. She waved to him as the schooner glided out of the harbour.

Then she turned and went with her prospective sister-in-law to plant sweet potatoes and vegetable marrow. Both women were busy: when, suddenly, Kanik let out a yell—just one scream.

Such a scream was well-known to her girl friends, who knew her pronounced fear of snakes, and had often teased her about it.

But, this time there was cause for alarm. Quickly, a few sticks were gathered. an improvised stretcher made, Kanik laid on it, and carried home. However, before the village was reached she had passed away.

Since then, the kian has not been asked to arrange marriages.

Nurse H. Clark, a Methodist Mission ary, who has served in Fiji among the Indian people for 27 years, arrived in New Zealand by the January “Niagara” to spend some time in Auckland, ow ing to ill-health.