Wouldn’T

The Mules Thai

Amusing Memory of the Murray Era, by Sydney H.

Chance

TO quote Eric Peldt; “There is a chance of preserving some history of the Territories by articles in the PIM, and the more if them that appear the better.” As [ think so, too, I propose to tell •eaders something of Papua’s tragic, nit laughable, experiment with mule Jransport of Police Camp stores, letween Aropokina (at the head of he Ethel River, which debouches nto Hall Sound, 60 miles west of MGoresby) and the Kambisi Camp [a mere seven days, or 128 hot, nuddy miles, inland).

After the murder of some M.S.C. jarriers in the Ononghe district, it vas deemed necessary to “educate” he trouble-makers.

In the early 20’s Charles Karius ind Halford Thompson went in to nake a strong camp at Kambisi; ind what they didn’t do to the •ecalcitrant tribesmen is not worth •eading about. They were relieved )y Logan and Baker, who did lothing but hold the place until [van Champion and PO Hartley irrived. Hartley was succeeded by lack Hides.

All these officers were hampered )y lack of stores. As a matter of ‘act, it was while Hartley was away it the coast getting up stores, that [van was surrounded by hundreds of Dop and PO killers, at Waitape. It’s ;oo long a story for here.

Champion scientifically and najestically bluffed them not a hot was fired they just left!

Later, Ivan went on leave and Dave Pullen took over with Hides as PO.

As I have already pointed out in his paper, it was while Hides was >n his way to the coast for stores hat the Mavi deaths occurred.

About this time, Sir Hubert wrote; “One of the worst ‘eatures of the police camp is the senseless and unnecessary waste of

coastal native man-days on the labour of carrying up stores. The horrible road has to be traversed to be appreciated, and don’t forget it Is a mule track of sorts, and not a foot pad. We must endeavour to use mules to eliminate wastage. At present only 25 per cent, of the stores reach the camp, the rest being eaten en route on the anything of up to 10 days’ trek. The weather factor is a big consideration.”

Thus, Sir Hubert said: “Let there be mule transport.”

At this time, the only man in the Administration who knew anything about mules was RM Dick Grist, who had been in Canada, and also with Younghusband in India, if not Tibet.

Was Grist consulted? No. With out thought of first providing way side mule paddocks, or of the training of native muleteers, mules were ordered. It’s as simple as that, thought somebody in Moresby. ••Mule Transport.. You must have mules. Ipso facto —order 30 from Australia.”

IN due course, one Archie Lomax was engaged, and a Mule Camp was made at Aropokina. The RMS X-Word Funnel brought the mules to Yule Island, where Hides and Lomax were to receive them as they swam ashore. Brother Alexis, who said he knew all about mules, was there, too, in the capacity of Honorary Adviser.

The mules were as wild as hawks.

One, on being dumped overboard, made for the Passage to the open sea, and was last seen bound for Cooktown.

One of the first to get ashore, with teeth bared, made straight for the saintly Brother, who dashed for the lee of a friendly palm!

Eventually, the mules got to Aropokina; and this is the story of their first trip inland, as told to me by a French Father whose English wasn’t too hot.

“Ha, ha, Mr. Chance! The mules, they start off from Aropokina quite all right. But of the boys there are too many. One boy to four mules it should be, not four boys to each mule.

“They kick, they lose the loads.

The precipice it is there. One mule falls over and the rope has to be used.

“The boys carry the mules’ food (fodder), and the mules carry the boys’ food. They eat each other out, and when they get to Mafulu there is nothing left. The backs of the mules are, what you say, so sore that the boys carry the saddles back to Aropokina. It is to laugh.”

ONE thing I will say—Lomax did try. When I went up to take over the Camp, after the Pullen business, some of the mules were still at Mafulu, never having been caught.

After all this, night-camp mule paddocks were made by Lomax and his successor Nagel, an ex-chemist’s helper from Australia. They were both ably hindered by the thieving Mekeos, who had not heard of that Commandment, and who required the fencing wire for fish spears!

All the time I was at Kambisi, with Hides as assistant, we “gave the mules away” and took it in turns to bulldoze laden carriers from the coast to the camp.

Hides went on leave and, for a while I was on my own, until joined by S. EUiott-Smith. We did a gruelling trip all over the Ivane Hills, eventually reaching the alleged mule-track at the Popole Mission.

Said the Father: “You will be pleased that your mules have arrived.”

Smithy, who had threatened to clout me if I ever again said the word “mool” to him, almost em braced me. Of course it was only a furphy: the mules were still at the coast!

Eventually (1927), I became due for leave, and Smithy and I ordered tons of stores to be delivered at Yule Island. At Aropokina Depot there were some miles of fencing and some of the fattest mules I have ever seen.

Nagel left and his successor soon took a tumble to the job and threw it in. That was Harry Rosser.

But I have it on hearsay that Mule Boss No, 4, old Jack Seymour, who was a South African War veteran, actually did get some stores up into the hills by mules.

When I was recently in Central Queensland, I saw a chappie load ing up mules, and I said to myself; “You poor so-and-so. I’m glad its you and not I that has to deal with those kicking half-castes.”

In one sentence; During the (eighteen months I was at Kambisi, not one ounce of food, or anything else, came up to me by mule trans port.