There the storekeepers and traders generously supplied them with food, but found it impossible to get them employment. A steamer was sent by the Government to bring them on to Sydney, where they were placed in the immigration depôt until such time as they found employment.
The unhappy immigrants could not speak a word of English, but after a time they were drafted off up country, where they were employed as farm labourers.
What had become of the miscreant who had caused all this ruin and misery?
He was in France, living on the proceeds of his ill-gotten gains. Upon the true state of affairs leaking out, the Marquis de Ray was arrested, tried before the Tribunal in Paris, and sentenced to several years' imprisonment. Well for him that he escaped being hanged. This should be a warning to would-be emigrants to learn some particulars of the country in which they intend to settle, before embarking on the voyage. Let us hope that we shall never again have to record so ill-starred an expedition as the one launched by the French marquis.
Once clear of St. George's Channel, we seemed to lose the strong currents, and consequently made better way.
Returning was a very different matter from coming from New Guinea. We had now been four days at sea, and during the whole of that time had been beating about in the channel. We had still a long distance to travel, and from all appearances it would be several days before we reached our destination. It was of no use crying out against our luck. Head winds were the order of the day, so we consoled ourselves with the thought that the same winds had been favourable to us not long before. We amused ourselves by conversing with our two native companions and perfecting ourselves in their language.
In the evening, after supper, the dwarf graciously entertained us, telling us all about his people and their ways, and singing New Guinea carols.
He had a pleasant voice and kept good time.
Many of his songs were improvised on the spot, and he often introduced our names into them.
It is marvellous the power with which the natives of New Guinea compose verses.