TWO YEARS AMONG NEW
GUINEA CANNIBALS
[Illustration:
TWO NEW GUINEA DANDIES.
They are natives of Dinawa. Notice their tight-laced waists and the
nose ornaments (chimani) of polished shell.
]
TWO YEARS AMONG NEW GUINEA CANNIBALS
A Naturalist’s Sojourn among the Aborigines of Unexplored New Guinea
By
A. E. PRATT
Gill Memorialist, Royal Geographical Society, 1891 Author of “To the
Snows of Tibet through China,” etc.
With Notes and Observations by his Son
HENRY PRATT
And Appendices on the Scientific Results of the Expedition
_With 54 Illustrations and a Map_
PHILADELPHIA
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
LONDON: SEELEY & CO. LTD.
1906
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
At the Ballantyne Press
TO
_MY WIFE_
THE COMPANION, PRESENT OR ABSENT OF MY MANY WANDERINGS
PREFACE
This record of two years’ scientific work in the only country of the
globe that has still escaped exploration purposely avoids the dry detail
of a Natural History Report, such as might properly be submitted to a
learned society, and is intended rather to set forth to the general
reader the vicissitudes of the traveller’s daily life in unknown New
Guinea, or Papua as I prefer to call it. Every hour brought a new
interest, and it was with the intention of trying to communicate some
impression of that wonderful land in which we sojourned, that the
present account has been undertaken. If the result is disappointing to
the reader, the fault must lie with the writer and not with Papua.
During my brief residences in the known parts of New Guinea, I received
much kind assistance and furtherance in my marches into the wilds from
officials, missionaries, and settlers, and I would here especially
acknowledge my indebtedness to his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor,
Mr. G. Ruthven Le Hunte, Mr. A. Musgrave, C.B., Captain Barton, the Hon.
D. Ballantine, Mr. Robert Hislop, and Mr. James Wood; His Grace
Archbishop Navarre, Coadjutor Bishop de Boismenu, both of the Sacred
Heart Mission; Dr. Laws and the Rev. H. Dauncey of the London Missionary
Society.
The Dutch officials to whom I am under deep obligations are Mr. Kroesen,
the Resident of Merauke, Mr. M. C. Schadee, the Controller, and also the
captain of the gunboat _Neas_.
For permission to reprint the section on the Lakatois and several other
passages I am indebted to the _Wide World Magazine_, and the chapter on
“British Trade Prospects in New Guinea” is given by consent of the
_British Trade Journal_.
My particular acknowledgments are due to Messrs. G. H. Kendrick, Mr. G.
T. Bethune Baker, F.L.S., and Miss Wilmott, without whose help the
expedition could not have been undertaken, and I must also mention Mr.
S. H. Soper, F.R.G.S., another friend whose interest and assistance was
of the greatest value to me.
A. E. P.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
BREAKING THE GROUND
PAGE
The Author’s many Journeys—New Guinea more Interesting than all—
The Second Largest Island in the World, and the last to Guard
its Secrets from Man—Its Vast Possibilities to the Trader and
the Man of Science—Great Riches in Birds and Insects—770 known
Species of Birds—The People—Their Many Dialects—A Geographical
Reason for this—Toilsome Travel—Razor-like Ridges in Endless
Succession—The Author’s Camps—Journeys Outlined—In Unexplored
Country—Gorgeous Scenery—Variations of Temperature—The Chief
Bugbear, Transport 17