In Unknown

N. Guinea

Patrol's Discoveries West of Mt. Hagen

A LARGE patrol, in charge of Assist ant District Officer Taylor, is at pre sent exploring hitherto unknown country on the inland plateau of New Guinea, in the region between Mount Hagen and the upper waters of the Sepik River.

The patrol, at intervals of ten days, communicates by radiophone with A.W.A. stations and Rabaul; and the following interesting details are taken from the “Rabaul Times”:— The patrol, in mid-April, was camped 7.800 ft. above sea level at the junction of the Lagaib and Kera Rivers. These rivers are presumably the headwaters of the Maramuni River, which is a tribu tary of the Yuat River. For two weeks the patrol had not been below 8,000 ft., except when striking the present camp.

The native people are reported to be friendly, but stolid, and are quite differ ent from the Hagen—Bena Bena—Ramu natives. They are known in the Hagen lan guage as Enga. This language appears to extend about 50 miles west of Mt.

Hagen.

The people encountered to date by the patrol have no desire for steel trade, or shells. They take them, but are not in terested, all of which is different from ex periences in other districts. There is nothing that they appear to want, or need, and it would appear that nothing excites them. They are very interested in the patrol and come every day to the camp, but merely stand and stare.

The patrol commenced with a good chain of interpreters, but the men select ed became scared and decamped one night. Since then sign language has been used.

It is disappointing to find a dearth of pigs. They are few and difficult to find.

There is a plentiful supply of good sweet potatoes, but these alone are not suffi ciently sustaining for the patrol’s car riers.

The first base camp is to be establish ed on the southern side of the water shed. Mr. Taylor made a quick trip of three days into the main ranges and found a big population there. Future work will naturally follow the popula tions, because of the food aspect. The people in the main ranges are very in telligent and very friendly. Conversation was carried on by signs. People were found living in a valley at 9000 ft. This valley had alpine grasses. Their langu age is very sonorous, which is noticeable m their names, e.g., Ani-Behareh-Bapi roka (one word).

Work of the patrol is proceeding ac cording to plan, but is slower than was expected. It has been very peaceful, no ecause s * ze the patrol, but this cannot be taken as a general in dex of the nature of the people.