East Papua
p. 88 · Read in the full issue
A 600-Miles Drift
Santa Cruz Canoe Reaches East Papua
ON the subject of long canoe voyages, it may be recalled that during the last war, a canoe that was little more than a roughly hollowed-out log, carrying three natives, was swept away in a westerly direction from the Santa Cruz Islands, north-east of the New Hebrides.
It was first sighted by a United States naval patrol, but the latter was under pressure and could not stop to pick up the natives. One of the men, trying to climb the mast, fell and broke his arm.
The patrol reported to the Air Force, and an American plane found the canoe, dropped food and water, and kept in touch with the drifting craft until it went ashore on Rossel Island, Eastern Papua.
The canoe had drifted some 600 miles, missing the southern Solomons.
The three natives landed on the north side of Rossel, and walked some 10 to 12 miles along the coast. Another canoe then picked them up and conveyed them to Sudest Island, where ANGAU officers took charge of them. Without the assistance of the Americans, on the high seas, they must have perished.—D. H.