The book opens with the author's voyage from Sydney to the German Protectorate of New Guinea in nineteen hundred and seven, detailing her initial encounter with local officialdom and the remote conditions of the region. She describes the geography and turbulent history of the islands, including Spanish explorations and the voyages of Dampier and Carteret, alongside the establishment of German authority.
Subsequent chapters focus on the Gazelle Peninsula, examining the local kanakas, their rudimentary culture, physical ailments, and reliance on shell-money known as tamboo. The narrative details visits to the Roman Catholic mission at Vunapope under Bishop Coppée, and encounters with notable residents such as the trader Queen Emma and the ethnographer Mr Parkinson.
The author explores the diverse populations of the Archipelago, contrasting the fierce and seafaring Admiralty Islanders with the reclusive and primitive Bainings of the mountain regions. She details native agriculture centered on taro and yams, the ubiquitous uses of the bamboo and cocoanut palm, and the pervasive fear of witchcraft and magic that governs daily existence.
Further sections describe native ceremonies, including burial rites, marriage customs, and the infamous Duk Duk secret society, alongside the practice of native surgery such as trepanning. The author recounts her excursions into bush villages in the company of the Governor, Dr Hahl, observing the complex interactions between native labourers and European planters.
The work concludes with reflections on the challenges of colonial administration in equatorial regions, the impact of European contact on native populations, and the uncertain future of these Pacific island communities under German rule.
