Dyott Expedition Will Explore
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
In Search Of The
“Devil-Pig”
Dyott Expedition Will Explore Sepik Country
PLANS are practically complete for the expedition led by Commander G. M.
Dyott to depart from England and pro ceed to New Guinea to spend a year in scientific research in the Sepik River country, says a Melbourne newspaper.
Besides making a plane table survey of the country traversed, the party will study the primitive culture of the Sepik tribes. It is stated that the expedition hopes to obtain conclusive evidence of the existence of the “devil-pig,” a gra minivorous animal with cloven feet.
This strange creature is greatly feared by Sepik natives, but so far only its tracks have been seen by white men.
Captain C. A. W. Monckton, a former New Guinea official, makes reference to the mysterious animal in his book “Recollections of a New Guinea Magis trate.”
The expedition, which has the support of the Royal Geographical Society and the goodwill of the Commonwealth Government, will include Mr. Dyott, two English explorers, and Mr. H. L. Wil liams, an Australian anthropologist. The collections made while the party is in the Mandated Territory will be divided be tween the Pitt River’s Museum at Oxford, England, and scientific institutions in Australia.