EXPLORATION IN NEW GUINEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8035, 24 August 1887, Page 5

EXPLORATION IN NEW GUINEA.

ASCENT OF THE OWEN STANLEY RANGE. The President of the Geographical Society of New South Wales (Bir Edward Strickland) has received a letter from a New Guinea explorer named Carl H. Hartmann, stating that he and Mr. George Hunter (Government agent at Rigo) had made a successful expedition to the top of the Owen Stanley Mountain Range. Mr. Hartmann writes from Port Moresby under date of July 17, and says that he and hie companion returned to that plaoe oo the preceding day after a somewhat interesting trip into the interior of New Guinea. He says they had many hairbreadth escapes in their passage through the unexplored country to the great mountain rauge, and they found it extremely difficult to approach the mountains, owing co the hostility shown by the hill tribes, who appeared to be determined to preveut intruders from approaching the secret "Taramogoro" — ie., the abode of the spirits of their departed friends. Owing, however, in a great measure to Mr. Hunter's knowledge of the natives (he having been working this route up for about two years), and the friendliness some of the savages manifested towards him, all difficulties wore eventually surmounted, and the daring explorere, after pressing on through the almost pathless — and hither untrodden — forest growth, ultimately reached the summit of the Owen Stanley Range, and tho summit of their ambition, they beiug the first white men to achieve this proud distinction. Mr. Hartmann says the view from the mountain top was magnificent in the extreme. The giant peaks, clothed with lovely verdure, stretched away as far ae the eye could reach, while, in the broad open valley beyond, the country appeared to be very fertile. The subsoil in the vicinity of the mountains is somewhat similar to that in many of the New Zealand mountains. The place is said to be a very paradise of majestic palm (areca nut, and other varieties), and the loveliest ferns and flowers imaginable, gigantio tree ferns, and beautiful climbing ferns being plentiful. Orchids were seen, but they did not flourish in such profusion as did other varieties of flowering plants. Mr. Hartmann says he has made a fine collection of specimens of plant and insect life. He and his companion would have descended the Owen Stanley Range and pushed into the open country beyond; but they were compelled to go back to the coast, on account of the terrific rainfall which came down every evening. On the return journey the party came down the magnificent Musgrave River on a raft to where it joins the Kemp-Welsh River. Mr. Hartmann forwarded some fern specimens to Sir Edward Strickland, and he intends to mail further particulars of his interesting expedition through this comparatively unknown portion of the "Dark Island."