Inland New Guinea

Dutch Explorer Finds People Similar to Tribes in Centre of Papua

AN expedition into the interior of Dutch New Guinea led by Dr. W. J.

Gator, Assistant Resident of West N.

Guinea, which recently returned after an absence of three months, found “pale skinned” tribes similar to those dis covered some years ago in Central Papua by Mr. Jack Hides and others.

The natives, who were reported as be ing “whiter than the Javanese”, culti vate well-kept gardens of rice, bananas, cassava, sugar and various vegetables.

Writing from Batavia, where he examined Dr. Gator’s report, a special correspondent of the “Sydney Morning Herald” on April 28 said:— When making a reconnaissance on be half of an oil company in Dutch New Guinea last year, a K.N.I.L.M. pilot named Wissel saw three great lakes in the mountains, roughly north of Fak fak. He reported the discovery to the Administration on November 27.

Dr. Gator set out to make a patrol to the lake area, taking with him six police and 25 native carriers. He travelled up the Oeta River through difficult moun tain country into the inland plain sur rounding the Wissel Lakes, as they have been named. Here he found “pale skinned” tribes, who speak a language that has nothing in common with the languages of the low-lying country, who cultivate gardens with skill and industry, and keep pigs, chickens, and dogs (which they eat).

Lake-Side Settlements

Most of the settlements visited are on the shores of the lakes, the largest of which is about seven miles in width.

Dr. Gator travelled among the native villages for two months, mapping the country, observing the customs, and making a vocabulary of their hitherto unknown language. The natives were very friendly, though they had not seen Europeans before. They use shells for money. They are not tattooed, though the lowland tribesmen are. They build elaborate cane bridges over the rivers as is done in the Australian-controlled part of central NeV Guinea. They appear to suffer from no diseases, again in contrast with the lowland natives.

The newly-explored area is at 9,000 feet. The highest temperature ex perienced by the expedition was 30 de grees centigrade. The country is open plain land.

Dr. Gator’s report and maps have just been received by the Central Adminis tration here, and have not yet been ex amined in detail, but it appears at present that the patrol has discovered tribes that have much in common with the mountain people recently visited by patrols in the Australian territory of Papua.

Mr. W. D. Brown, Government store keeper at Pt. Moresby, Papua, arrived in Australia in May.