Guinea Natives

Central New

Prospector Urges that Purari- Ramu Area be Closed to “Civilization”

Letter to the Editor.

AS one who has spent some time in the Ramu and Purari areas, both your leading article and Mr; Hall’s contribu tion in the April issue interested me greatly.

People are apt to forget that in popu lated areas such as the Ramu and Purari, we are the foreigners. Not only that, but we go there of our own free will, knowing that the areas are uncontrolled, and if the natives resent our invasion, and use the only method they know to rectify matters how can we blame the government or the natives? I do not agree with you in applying the “pay back” motive to the cases mentioned in your article. Ian Mack was killed during an attack on a village; Bernard McGrath in a fight arising out of a quarrel over stolen goods; and Herr Baum by members of a treacherous tribe, probably for his trade goods. I have been amongst kana kas who had been raided by their enemies assisted by a white man, and they treated me with friendliness, although I refused to assist them. The “pay-back” motive may apply in individual cases, but it has not the universal application people think.

The administration has done wonderful work in uncontrolled areas, hampered as they are by criticism —official and other wise. It is a pity that the man on the spot is not allowed to use his own judg ment more frequently, but is checked by the thought of possible criticism from Rabaul, Canberra, and even Geneva. Still, what the government is doing, in uncon

trolled areas, it is doing well, and I would say to those who criticise their decisions, “The man on the spot knows more about it than you, so give him a chance.”

However much we may admire the government’s work one cannot help ask ing why this policy of “civilization”? The Ramu native has in the past year degene rated from a virile, busy, fighting man into a slothful, betel-nut-chewing kanaka, with a filthy rag draped around him. The District Officer is expected to civilize them, to keep them quiet, put down tribal fighting, and crush their manhood out of them. He has done his job well.

The same thing will happen in the Purari and Hagen areas and fine reports will be spouted by delegates at Geneva, about the number of natives brought under the “civilizing” influence of the white man. Then the missions will fol low; they can do no more harm and may replace in the native’s mind something of that which has been destroyed. If civiliza tion will do the native great harm, why “civilize” and why “convert”? Do men of religion sincerely think that the native in his natural state —a tribal fighter and, according to our standards, immoral —is less acceptable in the sight of God than the product of civilization and conver sion?

It is not necessary for civilization to follow the prospectors. Let the govern ment use its uncontrolled areas regula tions for the purpose of selection and see that only the right type of man goes in, well armed, and then let him alone.

The prospector’s policy must be one of non-interference and friendliness, other wise he does not get food and cannot re main. Some, of course, would bully and rob. However, if they were not weeded out at the beginning, they would soon reveal themselves —if they were still alive.

The average prospector resents their pre sence just as much as the government or the natives.

Cannot we go about our business and let the native attend to his? Police our communities, if any, and leave “the rich country of definite agricultural and pas toral value” to its rightful owners. This type of land is suitable only for dredging, if there is gold in it, but if the country is populated by an agricultural people, it is better for that land to lie till its people have rotted away, giving them its wealth, rather than it should be torn up, destroyed and turned from a fertile valley into a serpentine rock-pile for the sake of one golden harvest, or robbed from its owners, leaving them, instead of fine, free men, lazy, dependent, “civilized kanakas.”

I am, etc.,

“Prospector.”

Salamaua, N. Guinea, June 6, 1934.