Papuan Memories
p. 46 · Read in the full issue
SOME interesting memories of earlier days in Papua are contained in a letter from London, from Mr. J. E. Nixon- Westwood: “You certainly have given the lone Islanders something to help them pass the time, and you have done a lot for we ex-islanders, who, by having your maga zine regularly, can read of what our friends are doing. Once in a while we notice the death of an identity, and all sorts of memories come back.
“In the October issue, you have notice of Mrs. Inman’s demise, and as I knew the Grand Old Lady for the last 27 years, I feel that, one by one, these real pioneers
of the Commonwealth’s possessions are passing away.
“Mrs. Inman’s son Jimmy is well known, and has done a lot of good work in the Eastern Division of British New Guinea. Years ago, when he was O/C, the ‘Albert MacLaren,’ I made a trip with him to Tuft. My memory of that trip is still vivid, and also the absolute control Jimmy had over the crew, without any sign of ostentation or authority. His word was law, and, although on the boat, one could feel the comradeship which, existed between the crew and the Tau bada. One could also feel that the whole authority was vested in Jimmy.
“His greatest speech seemed to be around 5.30 a.m., when he lazily awoke, and called out ‘Albert, Albert —make some coffee.’ Then, a few minutes later, he would finish the sentence with ‘make some stew and put an onion in it.’ That was the alpha and omega of Jimmy’s early morning speech!
“The Inman family certainly have in scribed an indelible page on the history of British New Guinea. Also, Mrs. Wis dell (later Mrs. Leslie). How many of the Lakekamu miners, as well as the earlier men on Misima and Woodlark, will always remember her in terms of endearment. Also, the Clunns, now no longer interested in the welfare or grub staking of the brave men of long ago.
“In those days, we did not have air planes, neither did we have powered boats; and the journeys took days as against hours. But the spirit was there, and, with reverence, we raise our caps to Matt Crowe, Billy Ivory, and a host of others now gone over that borderline from which there is no returning. Of those who are living, we have Frank Pryke, Leslie Joubert, Joe Sloan, Gus Nelsson and a number of others who are still hardy enough to face the difficulties of that great land.
“Good luck to the P.I.M., and I trust you will be able to continue the great work you have started, and keep the folk in the real outposts of the Empire sup plied with the class of news you so ably edit.”