Primitive Men in Little - known Country

New Guinea Catholic Missionary’s Impression:

From a Roman Catholic Missionary who recently visited the Southern Highlands District, in the Centre of New Guinea.

IHAVE been to Mendi, Rumu (Tari) and Lake Kutubu—a very interesting trip, indeed.

There is a big population, especi ally in the Tari— about 100,000 be tween the Waga (East), the Strick land (West), the NG border and 6 deg. South.

The natives I met around Mendi and Rumu are a very interesting people. They are the same type as at Mt. Hagen, strong and healthy, full of life, and always ready for a good laugh.

But what surprised me mostly (after 18 years spent in the Kairuku district and a few trips in the Goilala) is that they are really good workers! They have well-cultivated gardens and seem to be always ready to give a hand to anybody. I also found them quite intelligent.

Only a small portion of the dis trict is under the full control of the Government. There is still some tribal fighting, “For them, it is just like a match of football is for us,”

a Patrol Officer said. “They have a good fight to settle a dispute and when one or two have been knocked down, the opponents have a good feast together.” (I suppose this is a fight among “friends,” not between enemy tribes!).

I found most of the Government officers very efficient and really anxious for the good of the natives.

They have not the Utopian idea of bringing the whole district under control within a few months, as sug gested by Canberra. They prefer to go slowly, imposing the Govern ment law only after many patrols, introducing new food to the natives (corn, peanuts, European potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, tomatoes) and giving them medical treatment as soon as (but only when) they suc ceeded in making them understand the good of it.

I reckon these natives will come under control rather easily, because they are essentially farmers. But to rush it would only mean spoiling the good work already done. They have certainly been very carefully handled up till now around Rumu.

They still have the qualities of the unspoiled natives, simplicity and hospitality (plus the idea of work,

so lacking in many other prime tribes); and they are now o peaceful, happy-looking and frier around the station, building dr. and roads and making nice,, gardens.

It was a grand sight for mr see those rich, populated, valleys, at about 5,000 ft. I am there will be great possibilities there when the country is open: cattle, coffee, all European v tables, etc. * * * A coastal native told me the o day that, in his village, they been discussing those people in Tari. Some old fellow got the that these people must be their' ancestors, coming back on eartf a better place.

“I don’t know where they < from,” I said, “but you can be that they are not your ances: because these people do world t According to a Melbourne o Mr. Werner Winkler, a Swiss stu of archaeology, has recently ar: in the New Hebrides to searcH a “lost tribe” of pygmies. How became lost is not stated, but statement that a French “* pany”—not a scientific institutr financing Mr. Winkler on a year search, seems to suggest there is money in pygmies, ones or another.