THROUGH PAPUA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 7

THROUGH PAPUA

LADY’S ADVENTUROUS WALK. PICTURESQUE SIDELIGHTS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June _5: A much-travelled lady, Miss Philippa Bridges, a sister of Sir Tom Bridges, Governor cf South Australia, has just completed a long walking tour in Papua and ex-German Now Guinea, and is now in Australia. Sho was greatly impressed by what has been done for the natives by the Papuan administration, and by their, intelligence and orderly mod© of life. Miss Bridges, who is particularly fond of unbeaten tracks and simple folk in their native surroundings, said that the parly, which was specially arranged for her benefit by Judge Murray (the LieutenantGovernor), whose guest she was, left Port Moresby and went down to Buina. The country was difficult. One toiled up and up the razor-back bills, crossed narrow ridges, and climbed down to streams over which they had to be carried, when they could not‘bo crossed upon slippery logs. “I was the only white woman; in fact, everyone in the large party was a native, except the Lieutenant-Governor's son-in-law who bad charge of the expedition,” said Miss Bridges. “All the provisions had to be carried withf us, also our sleeping tents and all accessories. We only touched the border of civilisation once, when we passed through the village of Koda, where we were entertained by the only white man, the resident magistrate. I cannot speak too highly of the native police—the armed native constabulary, to give* them their full title. A party of them travelled with us as escort. No matter how small the native village, there is always a policeman in charge! and they are regular martinets. Every village 1 saw was a model one.” Miss Bridges has a wonderful collection of photographs taken throughout the trip. “Some of these were taken by the natives,” sho said. “1 would /get: the camera ill position, and they would just touch the button. Some things are difficult to describe. Look at this bridge, for instance, jt is a narrow strip of matting made out of a fine grass, and is slung between poles. It is not so fragile as it appears, but the majority, of bridges over wide streams are simply a single log. or sometimes two, very mossy and slippery. The construction of the country is a series of razor rocks. You spend your time going up one side and down the other. I suppose I must have a good souse of balance, because I never fell. I always made a point of going straight ahead. I think holding a, stick or moving \onr arms is quite useless. It was wonderful to watch the native women we had with us. They not only carried their own share (141 b) but half one of the men’s as well. Then they would put a baby on the lop anti carry a native nie in their arms, and still cross a running river on a single log. The Papuan men and women are very keen on flowers. Of course their hair is' awfully frizzrv and stands straight out. Papua means frizzy hair. J-ney stick the hibiscus in it, and also in the bangle they wear on their arms, just as the flapper puts a handkerchief in her slave bracelet. The flowers there all grow on trees, and the birds are beautiful; parrots, liornhill. and birds of paradise.” Asked if leeches had proved troublesome, Miss Bridges said the natives suffered a good deal, hut: she found a cotton skirt kept them off most effectually. After leaving Papua Miss Bridges went on to Rabual, and later went | l 'vomrh the ex-German territory. She said that the condition of the natives had improved under the present rule. For’ food they had taro, bananas, paw-paw, and, of oourae. coconuts, and a considerable amount of work went to raising their crops. As to the management of the tribes, although it could not. bo said that cannibalism was effaced from the whole of New Guinea—for there were inaccessible, heavily timbered mountains which ran up io 15,000 ft that had never been explored by white men yet—-there was little, if any, in Papua, Tribe In’ tribe the people were coming under control.