RETURN FROM THE WILDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23081, 6 January 1937, Page 10

RETURN FROM THE WILDS

CHAMPION EXPEDITION SAFE GREAT FEAT OF EXPLORATION <From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, Dec. 31. Just when fears had reached their worst for the safety of the Ivan Champion expedition in Papua, out of touch with civilisation since May 29, news was received of the party’s safety and the successful conclusion of the patrol, although delays were caused by the transporting of injured native carriers. Mr Champion, who is an assistant resident magistrate in Papua, left in May this year for the StricklandPurari district, with the object of obtaining information about the district and making contact with the natives. He was accompanied by Patrol-officer C. T. Adamson. Supplies were expected to last until October, and when, by the end of that month, no word had been received of the patrol, concern was felt, as the area in which the patrol was operating was wild and uncivilised. Searches were made by air, river, and land, and another party was on the point of setting out when news of the party’s safety was received.

The message received from Mr Champion by wireless from Port Romilly, Papua, was: “ Expect arrive Romilly 30th. Delayed upriver, transporting injured across range. Patrol successful. Ascended Leonard Murray Mountains, then across the Plateau and Upper Kikori to Lake Kutubu, and thence north-east across all grass valleys, over Mount Giluwer, and down the Kiucal Valley, crossing to Purari Waters. Friendly relations established with every tribe. No hostilities and no loss of life.”

Another message said that the party was rafting down the river. Extreme difficulty was encountered in transporting the injured carriers across the rough mountains bordering the Purari River., Apart from this, however, they had travelled in leisurely fashion, so that they might thoroughly explore the country. They climbed the Leonard Murray Mountains and examined lakes there. Their path lay across a limestone plateau. Stores were relayed to a deep lake named Kutubu, where the native population was studied. Next they climbed 14,000 feet to the summit of Mount Giluwer. All valleys in that area were found to be inhabited. Finally they crossed the divide ip the Purari head waters. The expedition is accepted as rivalling the epic journey of Mr Jack Hides through the hinterland of Papua last year. Mr Hides explored 7000 square miles of country between the headwaters of the Strickland and Purari Rivers. His remarkable report of the discovery of an unknown, industrious race prompted the Government to authorise the Champion expedition to Papua’s only remaining unknown tract—that to the south of Hides’s country. Mr Champion and Mr Adamson were sent to the Strickland-Purari district, with a view to opening up the area which had been partfy explored by Mr Hides. They reported in May that they had gone up the Bamu River, and were on the slopes of Leonard Murray Mountain. The patrol, which consisted of the two white men, 12 armed native constables and 27 native carriers, was fully equipped, and it was hoped to eke out supplies by making friends with the natives. Champion has said that he intended taking his time, and might not return until November. When no news of the patrol was heard by the end of November, the Lieutenant-Governor of Papua (Sir Hubert Murray) decided to send an expedition up the Purari River. Anxiety for the patrol was felt at that time, as the finding of an empty lysol tin, identified as having been part of the equipment of the patrol, was reported. A few days later a raft of European construction was discovered 25 miles up the Ivo Purari, a tributary of the Purari. Early in December a launch patrol was made 150 miles up the Purari River, and without success. On Christmas Day it was reported that two distressed Europeans had reached Mount Ilibu, and a police rescue party began a forced march to investigate the theory that the men were Messrs Champion and Adamson.