Guinea

In Dutch New

Gold Search Unsuccessful

IT is reported by Mr. Leroux, leader of the Royal Netherlands Geo graphical Society, in the January issue of the periodical of that Society, that he got information from three mountain-Papuans that two big lakes, called Mbagime Koma and Zugime Koma, are situated in the unexplored central region of Dutch New Guinea, to the north of the Frederic Henry Range, near the mountain top. Lake Mbagime is drained by the Ngolo River, a branch of the Rouffaer River; Lake Zugime by the Baliem River. It seems that this part of the Central Ranges is

thickly populated.

These mountain tribes told him also that workshops of stone axes and knives are to be found in the lewi and Zangge mountains, between the Ngulum bulu and Carstensz Range. The greenish material for these implements, probably chloromelanite, is found in this region.

Mr. Leroux reports that the widows in the Moni tribe are killed by arrows.

Only the lives of old women and mothers of babies are spared. Most women offer themselves willingly, but some of them resist desperately. Mutilation of fingers with an axe, as a sign of mourning if one of the members of the family dies, is frequent.

Search For Gold

Prospecting for gold was carried on from 1936, until the outbreak of the European war, by the New Guinea Min ing Company, on the south, south-west and north-east coasts of Dutch New Guinea. Gold prospecting was not suc cessful and has been stopped. Exploration was carried out in the eastern part of Dutch New Guinea.

In the Central Ranges, two large, thickly populated upland plains were discovered. One of these plains, called Sibil-anim, is situated to the south-east of the Juliana Range, and is inhabited by a friendly mountain tribe. It will not be difficult to establish an aeroplane base and a police station on this upland plain.

The other important upland plain is situated east of the Juliana Range. An important river was discovered, the Bon magot, an affluent of the Upper-Digul River, which rises not far from the sources of the A River, a branch of the Idenburg River.

Aeroplane Services

Dutch officials urge the necessity to put aeroplanes at the disposal of the Dutch New Guinea Civil Service. A new airline is being planned by K.N.1.L.M., the well-known Dutch airline company, from Makasser to Amboina-Babo (W.

New Guinea) and Manokwari (North New Guinea). Lockheeds will be used from Makasser to Ambon, and smaller Grumman amphibians from Ambon to Babo and Manokwari. Opening up of New Guinea should be much easier with aeroplanes, while food and other sup plies for the police stations might be provided by air.

It is reported that the Netherlands New Guinea Oil Company has now spent some 21 million guilders on the oil search in north, west and south-west districts of Dutch New Guinea.

The Netherlands New Guinea Com pany has finished its soil-survey in the eastern part of north New Guinea. Some 30,000 hectares in the region between the Moaif River and the Sermowai River proved to be suitable for planta tions.

The company is planning to found businesses in jungle products. Some 1,000 hectares will be planted with rubber at the end of 1941, on Ransiki planta tion (N.W, coast of Geelvink Bay).

Miss M. Battersby, who is a worker at the Methodist Mission hospital on New Britain, T.N.G., is in Sydney recovering from a severe attack of pneumonia, Mr. M. O’Connor, accountant at the Suva brandh of B.P. (S.S.) Co., Ltd., has been accepted for the R.A.A.F. He has been in Australia recently on leave.