Planes Sn D.N.G. Gold
pp. 24-25 · Read in the full issue
Search
Large New Lake "Spotted" From The Air
AFTER a three months’ spell, the Netherlands New Guinea Mining Company will shortly begin prospecting again in Dutch New Guinea, from their new base on the Digoel River. The previous expedition did not meet with any outstanding success, although patchy gold was found. Between the source of the Lorentz and Reiger Rivers, the party discovered a coal seam, close to the surface.
The expedition, after vainly seeking a lake, called the “Violet Lake”, which had been reported by an American aviator several years ago, reached the head of the Eilander River (one of the largest in the Territory) in October last year.
On this river the natives .are uncivil ised and treacherous, so that the party had to be provided with extra guards, and a sharper lookout kept. These pre cautions, however, proved unnecessary.
In order to assist the expedition in their valuable work, the Netherlands Navy put at their disposal, for a short time, three Dornier flying-boats, and they made a flight along the Eilander River, landing in several places. The fact of these airboats flying overhead so frightened the natives that in one night they all disappeared from their villages and did not return for about three weeks!
It was while the flying-boats were on this patrol over the Eilander River country that one discovered a new lake.
Now called “Wissel Meer”, it is about 15 miles long and 10 miles broad and would make an ideal base for seaplanes.
The Dornier flying-boats were found to be too heavy for the reconnaissance work, and the company chartered two Fokker seaplanes to assist them. These machines arrived on the Eilander River in November, taking two days from Sourabaya (Java). Mr. P. Jansen (Man aging Director of the D.N.G. Mining Co.) was a passenger to and from the Eilander. The planes were used as fol lows: — (a) Prospecting from the air for the most likely places for gold, (b) Locating the easiest way for land parties to search. (c) Making a final search for the “Violet Lake”. (d) Making a general reconnais sance from the air of the country from the Eilander River to the Digoel River.
The Fokker seaplane venture did not produce any material facts, apart from giving information of the general out line of the rivers, mountains and country situated between the Eilander River and the Digoel. Owing to mists hanging over the mountains and at times over the low-lying country, visi bility from the air was limited, and little data could be gathered to serve as a
guide to the suitability of using planes for this kind of work.
The airmen were unable to locate the “Violet Lake”, but confirmed the posi tion of “Wissel Meer”. They reported that the natives living on the shores of this large lake, are light-coloured in skin, are of good physique, have well kept and orderly planted gardens, and apparently have a better idea of culti vation of crops, etc., than any other primitive natives in Dutch New Guinea.
The Netherlands Government proposes to organise a scientific expedition some time this year to study the habits, etc., of this “Lake Tribe”.
In the middle of December, a start was made to transfer the base from the Eilander River to the Digoel River, and this was completed before the end of the year, when the Company called a halt for three months.
Mr. W. Evans, cashier at Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd’s branch at Salamaua, New Guinea, is at present in Australia on sick furlough.
Mr. W. N. M. Chester, Collector of Customs at Port Moresby, Papua, reached Sydney by the last “Montoro” with his wife and family. He came South to seek medical attention.