
E-text prepared by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
List of Illustrations
CHAPTER I Games and School
CHAPTER II The Conceited Youth
CHAPTER III Keeping House
CHAPTER IV Grandfather and Grandmother
CHAPTER V The Sorcerer
CHAPTER VI A Sandalwood Church, and an Incident
CHAPTER VII A Chapter of Accidents
CHAPTER VIII A Feast and a Dance
Delena, a modest village on the shore of Hall Sound, comes alive through the eyes of a long‑time resident who has captured its rhythm in sixty‑three vivid photographs. The opening invites listeners to step off the usual Port Moresby route and meet the children who greet every newcomer with bright smiles and curious salutes, their hair styled in countless inventive ways that speak of tradition and personal flair.
Through anecdotes of schoolyard games, bustling market scenes, and the simple yet striking ceremonies that mark birth and marriage, the narrative paints a portrait of daily life that feels both intimate and universal. Readers hear the gentle humor of a boy’s makeshift alphabet etched into his hair, the solemnity of a wedding procession, and the lively chatter of villagers as they weave, hunt, and share meals beneath thatched roofs.
Together, the spoken words and accompanying images offer a rare glimpse into early‑20th‑century Papua, inviting anyone fascinated by cultural history, travel, or the quiet beauty of ordinary moments to explore a world that once thrived far from the modern gaze.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (247K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Aug 21, 2018
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1863–1932
A British missionary and writer, he spent four decades in Papua and turned those years into vivid sketches of everyday life in early twentieth-century New Guinea. His best-known book, Papuan Pictures, mixes travel writing, observation, and firsthand experience from the mission field.
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