depressed West
p. 118 · Read in the full issue
Oil hopes for Papua's depressed West
WEST PNG, from the Gulf of Papua to the borders of West Irian, is a land of contrasts. The world’s most up-to-date oil prospecting equipment is being used in the Gulf. And a few hundred miles away men are eating one another. At left, the Philips Australian Oil Co. rig, Glomar Conception (circled), was photo graphed from 6,000 ft by a staffman as it drilled its Maiva No. 1 well early in June. It was just 10 miles off the cloud-covered coast. To the right of the rig can be seen spoil from the drill. A few days after this picture was taken the well was plugged—without any traces of oil or gas being found—and the rig was moved four miles north to drill another well, lokea No. 1.
Oil may yet make the depressed West rich. Below, two warriors from the far reaches of the Fly. Both of them come from warring cannibalistic tribes and from areas where even rubber growing (which some people consider the only economic chance for the Fly River people; see opposite) is not possible. The warrior being given a shot against yaws is from the Gubusi tribe; the other, with the bone-pierced nose, is from the Biami tribe.