Papuan Patrol

Returns to Coast After Long Absence in Unknown Interior

THE Papuan official patrol, led by Mr.

Jack Hides, Assistant Resident Magis trate, and Patrol Officer, J. O’Malley, which left the upper waters of the Strick land River in Western Papua in January last to explore the unknown country to the north-east, made its appearance on the Gulf of Papua at Kikori on July 17, and then proceeded immediately by coas tal steamer to Port Moresby.

The appearance of the little expedition was greeted with relief. The return of the expedition had been looked for at the end of May, and its continued absence was causing a little anxiety—although there was no alarm. Messrs. Hides and O’Malley are experienced and clever pat rol leaders, and it was felt that the chances were all in favour of their making a safe return.

Nothing is known, as we go to press, of the results of the expedition, beyond a brief radiogram from Mr. Hides to a friend in Sydney stating: “Crossed suc

cessfully—interesting discoveries.”

This apparently means that Mr. Hides succeeded in crossing the barren and dan gerous limestone belt that lies in unex plored Central Papua between the upper waters of the Strickland and the Upper Purari.

The last heard from Mr. Hides had been written early in February, just before the party disappeared into the unknown north-east. He said that they were then following a river which went off into the north-east, and ran through country that appeared to be densely populated.

It may be assumed that the discoveries that have been made will include the character of the country, the number and type of the native inhabitants, and the possible course that is followed by the upper tributaries of the Purari. There is nothing yet, however, to indicate how far east Mr. Hides’ party penetrated. They may not have reached the Purari head waters, and may have been compelled to swing south-east and southwards before reaching the Purari. In that event, of course, they would come down the Kikori River to the Gulf of Papua.

It is apparently a fine achievement which adds much additional lustre to the already well-known names of Messrs.

Hides and O’Malley.