Champion Patrol Successfully Crosses Unknown Papua

£ iOO bail.

Champion Patrol Successfully

Crosses Unknown Papua

Paddles in from Wilds as Extensive Search in Progress THE keen anxiety felt for the safety of the Champion expedition, which left Port Moresby last April on a perilous trek through unknown Western and Central Papua, vanished on December 29, when a message came through from Port Romilly that the party was safe, and was paddling down the Purari River in native canoes.

This heartening news reached Port Moresby in the midst of one of the best organised searches by land, sea, and air that had ever been undertaken in the history of Papua.

The patrol was a complete success. The expedition made friends with all the native tribes encountered and was received cordially everywhere. Not a single shot was fired in warning or defence.

Intense satisfaction has been expressed in official quarters at the peaceful penetration of what, it had been feared, was hostile country. Sir George Pearce (Minister for Territories) described the crossing as “another feather in the cap of the Papuan Service.”

The Patrol

SAILING from Pt. Moresby by the Vailala on April 1, Assistant Resident Magistrate Ivan Champion, with Patrol Officer C. T. Adamson, 12 native armed constables, and 27 carriers, set out for the Strickland-Purari region, penetrated a few months earlier by Mr. Jack Hides, with the object of examining the country further west, obtaining additional information about Mr, Hides’s Furoro districts, and making contact with the natives.

Daru, in Western Papua, was left behind on April 25, and the party ascended the Bamu River to the Leonard Murray Mountains. Stores were relayed across the ranges and progress was painfully slow —it took five months to go 90 miles.

Traversing a great plateau, they came to the Upper Kikori River. Twenty-six days were spent in scouting for a place to wade through this mighty roaring stream, racing at 13 miles an hour through gorges 2,000 ft. deep.

Lake Kutubu, set among rugged mountains, 2,600 ft. up, was reached on October 18. The patrol spent a week on the shores of this deep, clear lake, making friends with the natives, who sold them foodstuffs.

Thickly Populated Valleys

Continuing northwards across grass valleys, thickly populated, they came to the Augu Valley, crossed an 8,000ft. limestone range (Mount Champion), and descended into the Wage Valley, five miles below Mr. Hides’s crossing. Marching through well-populated valleys, they went S.E. to the Erewa River, then N.N.E. into the Kawuku Valley and over into Mendi Valley, west of Mt. Giluwe (near the border of Papua and New Guinea). Giluwe, a 20,000ft. landmark, was reached after trekking through the Pivia Plateau. The party spent an uncomfortable night on Giluwe, at 11,400ft. where the water froze in the buckets.

Descending into the Kagoli Valley, south of Mt. Hagen (in the Mandated Territory), they set out in a southeasterly direction, reaching Poru Plateau, near Mt. lalibu, after travelling through uninhabited country. Wili River, at the lower end of Kagoli Valley, greeted them on December 1. To cross this stream, a canoe was built by the police.

Across The Limestone Barrier

Native guides led the party southwards across the Tu River and over the Karimiu Plateau into the dreaded limestone country. Following native tracks, a successful crossing was accomplished, though one of the carriers severely injured his leg and had to be carried over the last 10 miles.

Two days before Christmas, they reached the Purari River and, obtaining canoes, rafted downstream to Port Romilly, arriving on December 29. The Government vessel Yailala took the party aboard and on January 3 drew into Port Moresby wharf, where the explorers were welcomed by the Official Secretary (Mr.

Leonard Murray) and Mr. H. W. Champion (Government Secretary), the father of Mr. Ivan Champion, and a large number of townspeople,

No Exciting Adventures

In his official report, Mr. Ivan Champion said that the party had no exciting adventures, and except that the two Europeans were reduced to living almost entirely on sweet potatoes for three months they were never short of food.

Throughout the patrol, no trouble was experienced with the natives and friends were made in every tribe. In keeping with the Government’s policy of peaceful penetration, no shots were fired and no lives were lost.

Patrol Officer Adamson, who is an experienced prospector, found no colours of gold, though he examined every river and creek. The patrol’s position was always known with exactness, as astronomical observations were made throughout the trip. Time signals were sent out daily by A.W.A., Port Moresby, and picked up by the patrol on a small receiving set.

Success Due To Carriers

Paying a tribute to the 27 volunteer prisoners from Pt. Moresby gaol, MT.

Champion said: “They were splendid. I have never seen a finer band of carriers, and the whole success of the patrol is due to their efforts.” Two natives from the Karimiu Plateau and four from the Pio River returned to Port Moresby with the patrol to become police.

The Search

VVTHEN, at the end of November, the Papuan Administration had received no word of the whereabouts of the Champion expedition, grave fears for its safety were expressed in many quarters.

Anxiety became acute when a Lysol tin and abandoned rafts, thought to have been used by the party, were found floating down the Purari.

A launch party, under Mr. S. H.

Chance, A.R.M., proceeded far up the ber 28 last. —Block by courtesy of the Australian Board of Missions. 9 Pacific Islands Monthly, January 22, 1937 covered, however, and Mr. Chance returned to Port Moresby.

The Administration then arranged with Guinea Airways Limited for two flights to be made over the country in the vicinity of the Purari headwaters.

Though much valuable data concerning this region was obtained, no signs of the Champion party were seen.

Report From Mt. Hagen

On December 25, reports through native channels came to the ears of a missionary at Mount Hagen, in New Guinea, that two Europeans had reached Mt. lalibu, across the border. It was stated that they were without food, had little trade goods, and were breaking up the remainder of their pearl-shell to buy provisions. The reports indicated that the men had come from the south-west and were travelling to the south-east.

This report, as it turned out, was based on fact.

Acting on the assumption that the two men were Champion and Adamson, the Lieutenant-Governor (Sir Hubert Murray) ordered a relief party to set out immediately for Mt. lalibu. The party, consisting of Mr. R. G. Speedie, A.R.M., and Mr. S. G. Middleton, A.R.M. (both of whom took part in the aerial search), 15 native police, and 32 carriers, was flown in a Guinea, Airways machine from Pt. Moresby to Mt. Hagen. Mr. C. E.

Searle, of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd., accompanied them with a radio transmitting and receiving set weighing only 801bs., which had been specially built by A.W.A.’s local manager, Mr. K. Frank.

To Follow Tracks From Bamu

In the meantime, a second patrol was being assembled in Pt. Moresby to go up the Bamu River, in the Western Division, and to follow Mr. Champion’s tracks from the commencement of the patrol.

This party was to be led by Mr. S. H, Chance, with Mr. Alan Champion, the missing patrol leader’s brother, as his assistant. They were to be accompanied by Rev. B. T. Butcher, of the L.M.S., and another missionary.

Just as the party at Mt. Hagen was preparing to leave on a forced march to lalibu, word was received from the Police Camp at Bevan Island, Purari River, that the expedition was safe and on its way down to the coast.

COST £5,000 It is estimated that the cost of fitting out the search parties and the chartering of Guinea Airways’ plane for the aerial reconnaissance flights was about £5,000.

It was necessary expenditure, however. The patrol was long overdue and some effort had to be made in case the lives of the tw T o explorers were in danger. The aerial flights proved of great use to the Administration in giving them