As the boat approached completion my difficulties with the men increased.
The uncle of one had commenced a war, or sort of faction fight, and wanted his assistance; another's wife was ill, and would not let him come; a third had fever and ague, and pains in his head and back; and a fourth had an inexorable creditor who would not let him go out of his sight.

They had all received a month's wages in advance; and though the amount was not large, it was necessary to make them pay it back, or I should get any men at all.

I therefore sent the village constable after two, and kept them in custody a day, when they returned about three-fourths of what they owed me.

The sick man also paid, and the steersman found a substitute who was willing to take his debt, and receive only the balance of his wages.
About this time we had a striking proof of the dangers of New Guinea trading.

Six men arrived at the village in a small boat almost starved, having escaped out of two praus, the remainder of whose crews (fourteen in number) had been murdered by the natives of New Guinea.