Study

New Peoples of Central N. Guinea Fascinating Field of Study

THREE articles of unusual interest are published in the December issue of “Oceania” —the journal of anthro pology issued by the Australian National Research Council, of Sydney.

The first article gives what is, as far as we know, the first studied account by a scientist (Mr. F. E. Williams, the Papuan Government anthropologist) of the natives of Lake Kutubu, which is in the Central Western region of Papua, opened up to European exploration only during the past two or three years. These are people entirely new to science, and Mr. Williams’ description of them has considerable general, *as well as scientific, interest.

These people are well worth investi gation. They may supply some valuable data concerning long-distance migrations from Asia to Oceania.

An article which is related to the fore going is entitled “Stone Axes of Mount Hagen, New Guinea” by Mr. L. G. Vial.

The Mount Hagen people are, in a sense, just over the range from the Kutubu people—they are all part of the large, unknown populations of those unexplored plateaus in the centre of New Guinea.

The way in which these primitive folk systematically produce stone axes of beautiful design, polish and balance, makes a fascinating story.

The third article is entitled “Rennell Island Tatoo Markings”, by Mr. D.

Trench. This also has special interest, because the Rennell Island people are sandwiched in between Melanesia and Polynesia, and show signs of the char acteristics of each.