Maty and Ninigo

Another ‘Shangri La’

American Press Discovers Maty and Ninigo

rjlWO or three months ago, Mr. George X H. Johnston, a Sydney Sun writer, got a trip out from Manus (where the Jap War Criminal trials are pro ceeding) to the New Guinea North- Western Islands (Maty, Ninigo, etc.); and in the course of general observations, he remarked that a number of persons in this more or less Micronesian “pocket” had light-coloured skins, and the women were noted for their good looks. He referred to the ancient story that in one or two of these atolls the gentlemen spent much of their leisure in combing the hair of their favourite girl-friends. The party with which the journalist travelled were medi cal men making a survey.

It must have done good to the heart of Mr. Johnston to see how this story was dished up for the information of readers of a big chain of newspapers in the United States. Here is the story, naked but not unadorned, as it was published in many American newspapers on June 14:— Australian scientists were reported to-day to be investigating a tiny ‘‘Shangri-La” island in the Pacific, where native men spend long hours combing the hair of beautiful, almost white native women.

George H. Johnston, Sydney Sun correspondent, said scientists already were on the island, described as part of the coral-fringed Western isles some 800 miles north of New Guinea.

Johnston s?.id the women were reported to have figures rivalling those of Balinese beauties, and faces reminiscent of the Egyptian lovtUies of Cleopatra’s time.

Their only dress, he said, is a short, belted sarong, usually white. Unlike most primitive races, he said, the men folk wait on the women hand and foot.

Johnston said the expedition hoped to save the island beauties from extinction from malafia, tuberculosis, inbreeding and dietary deficiencies.