Do Not Trust Them!

Papuan Natives and the Last War

By D. H. Osborne

Mr. D. H. Osborne, of Rossel Island, Eastern Papua, died last October. He was a veteran of Papua, with a sound judgment based on long experience and shrewd observation. He wrote fre quently for the PIM, and, if ever the history of Papua in the first 50 years of this century is compiled, his articles, based on a long memory, will have con siderable value. The following article is the last he ever wrote for us. In it the Old-Timer gives his frank opinion of the natives. f WAS very interested in the article L published in March, 1950, issue— “ Pidgin as it is written.” I receive tiany of those letters myself. It suggests hat the mentality of the natives here nd Buka are much the same.

The native hospitals in charge of tatives are useful for odd cases of rounds, where stitches are needed therwise they are a loafers’ retreat for oung men. Most of the natives grow in dent when not under white supervision, fatives who are really ill do not go to he hospitals—they would rather get in ome dark corner of a house and not be isturbed.

The population of Rossel Island in June, 949, was 1,030. From June, 1949, to June, 950, there were 30 births and 26 deaths. 7hen my brother Frank settled here on Vessel, one woman neighbour had nine hildren. Seven or eight in a family was ommon. Today, few women have more tian three—many have none.

One of the New Australian medical len will be stationed on Misima. The cheme is worth a trial; but I am not ptimistic of the result. Natives are not een on doctors. The trouble will be to nd the patients. The need is an in reased birth rate.

I am afraid Mr. Spender is a political ud. All he can think of is spending tax ayers' money: red tape is increasing, istead of decreasing. This Territory is ecoming overloaded with a Civil Service -no move to stop it. It would be in vesting to know how many natives are ving at the Mission and Government tations, learning to become cadgers and ve on others, instead of fending for lemselves. Not like the old-time natives, ho were of an independent nature.

Last time a Patrol Officer was on .ossel his corporal of police was carry ig his own shot-gun. I have been in >rmed that Misima natives own 34 shot uns. Recently, a Rossel native asked for passage to Misima, when the launch as going there, as he would like to buy shot-gun from the Government. To How natives to have firearms is very >olish. There have been murders in these lands.

Gurio Ready was a young Filipino at le time of Sudest goldrush. He was cook i the schooner Griffen, owned by Harry hristensen (a Dane known as “German arry”). Harry was always agreeable to lowing members of his crew to leave, they forfeited their wages. Gurio be ime a resident of Sudest. He worked )ld, and was fairly lucky. Later, he owned boat and fished for trepang and trochus. is luck was good. He treated the natives Dnestly and was always popular—he /ed to more than 60. After his first wife’s ?ath he married a second time. He was urdered by the natives, near Subara, hen the Japs arrived.

George Burfitt was a half-caste (Aus alian father). George was born near

Sudest. He spent his life about the Cal vadors Chain, and he was murdered at Mutorema.

Another half-caste was murdered on Doini.

The Missionaries at Buna all warned us to be careful as to who we deal with. The civilisation we have taught our natives is only a veneer. If some Asiatic offers them loot and bloodshed, they will come quickly to him.

The Indonesians have given us a warn ing. We should take heed, and keep our powder dry.

Miss Rene Crespin, an Australian palae ontologist, is playing an important part in the search for oil in Papua. In April she flew to the United States where she will do three months research on micro scopic fossils. She has already studied fossils in oil-bearing fields in Java and Sumatra for the purpose of comparison with fossilised rocks in Papua.

Mr. R, R. Sanderson has been appointed legal manager of Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines N.L. in succession to the late Mr.

H. A. Smith.