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Pretty Trobriand Island girls have their faces painted before starting a dance. For more pictures, turn the page.

Try The Trobriands

A HOLIDAY with a difference. A group of tiny Pacific islands.

The pleasures associated with an island holiday—basking in the sun beneath palm trees, swimming, ex cellent fishing. And a touch of the unusual. It’s all to be found in the Trobriand Islands, 100 miles off the north east coast of Papua; fertile and

thickly inhabited.

The main island of the group, Kiriwina, is a coral formation, 30 miles long and in parts, 12 miles wide.

One of the few Europeans living permanently on Kiriwina is Aus tralian Tim Ward. With his wife he runs the only hotel in this group of islands.

The main interest of visitors to the Trobriand Islands will certainly be in the people themselves. But other attractions include the fantastic fish ing, from big game to reef; in the Trobriands the fishing yarns are really true and for the really adventurous, traveller, crocodile hunts can be organised.

Twice a year the Papuans hold a

festival for the yam gathering. Pigs are killed—as this is a special oc casion. This happens about November and July, The Kiriwina Hotel has a newly completed swimming pool surrounded by self-contained, native style huts.

Only a minute’s walk from the hotel are the beaches. White sand, crystal clear water and palm trees.

Health-conscious visitors will be pleased to note that the Trobriands are free of malaria and there is a full-time doctor in residence.

The Trobriand Islanders are honoured to show people through their villages. The islanders are honest, extremely friendly and keen to sell their wares to anybody in terested in their skills. They do make magnificent wood-carvings, which are sold at low prices. Whether a coffee table (with hand-carved legs) or a chess-set, these carvings are some of the best to be found in the whole Pacific.

One of the most interesting places to visit on Kiriwina is the site of their own version of Stonehenge. This is a mysterious collection of square stones carved into blocks (some weighing up to seven tons). The strange thing about these stones is that the Trobriand people know nothing of their origin. They say the stones “have always been there”.

Underground caves, with stalactites, and water holes to swim in, are as fascinating as some of the famous caves of Southern Australia.

Some years ago the Trobriands were famous for their natural pearls and from time to time an excellent pearl will still turn up. Small natural pearls are always on sale to visitors and the prices are not excessive.

A fascinating evening’s entertain ment is to be a spectator at some of the tribal dances of the islanders.

These usually depict domestic events, the harvesting of crops, fertility rites and ancestor worship.

Papuan fishermen supply the bounty of the sea to the hotel each day—fish, crabs, lobster, and there is an abundance of tropical fruits.

It’s hard to believe such a place could still exist in its natural simplicity— but it does. Kiriwina is different.

To get to the Trobriands, you fly to Port Moresby by the daily Ansett or TAA 727 jet and take the scheduled Thursday flight by Panuan Airlines to the Trobriands. The fare by Papuan Airlines to Kiriwina is $94 return to Port Moresby and the hotel accommodation on Kiriwina is $9 per day. inclusive. Through pas sengers between Australia and Asia may also travel to Port Moresby on the weekly Qantas 707.