Bush Telegraphy

A Mystery Is Exploded

A PERFECTLY good mystery has dis appeared, under the efforts of an in defatigable investigator.

In July, 1933, we published an article by Mr. Henry Dexter, of Eastern Papua, en titled “Bush Telegraph, Telepathy, or What?” Therein, Mr. Dexter most in terestingly summarised the experiences of various “old hands” in Papua, who had provided instances of news being con veyed over great distances in Papua, in so short a time that boats or runners could not have been employed.

Three notable instances were given. A Mr. Armit died at Tamata, on the North east coast, 400 miles from Samarai, yet his death was known in Samarai six hours later. A native named Dekawaia was killed on Woodlark Island by a fall ing tree; and the natives of Dekawaia’s village, near Samarai, knew of the death the day before the news reached the officials at Samarai, by letter. The third case cited was the death at Port Moresby of a Mrs. Baldwin, a lady universally esteemed by the natives. The natives in the far west, hundreds of miles away, be gan to wail only a few hours after Mrs.

Baldwin died.

That was the backbone of the article.

But Mr. Dexter, being a cautious man, did not let the matter rest there. He proceeded, at the cost of much time and trouble, to investigate all three cases. All had occurred many years ago; but Mr.

Dexter got the interest and co-operation of the Government officials, and many old documents were made available to him.

Mr. Dexter writes to say that the fol lowing is the result of his inquiries: 1. When Mr. Armit died at Tamata, a missionary, Rev. Copeland King, sent a canoe down the Mamba River with a letter. It arrived at the anchorage just as the old “President” was weighing an chor. She took the letter to Mr. Robert Whitten in Samarai; and Mr. Whitten broke the news to Mrs. Armit. This was the first report received in Samarai of Mr. Armit’s death. 2. Dekawaia was killed on Woodlark by a tree on November 5, 1909. The news reached the native’s village 21 days later, via the Marshall Bennetts, Trobriands, Dobu Passage and East Cape. There is nothing extraordinary in that. 3. It has been disclosed that the news of Mrs. Baldwin’s death was not known on the Fly River as soon as stated. There was time for the information to travel in the ordinary way.

It should be noted that in these, and other instances of quick transmission of news among natives, the subject invari ably is the death of someone well known.

It is quite probable that such an incident could be signalled easily by drums, and a very primitive code indeed could add sufficient information to enable the natives to identify the deceased.