EXPLORERS RFETURS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1080, 20 March 1911, Page 5

EXPLORERS RFETURS.

PAPUAN EXPEDITION SAFE. HARDSHIP AND ADVENTURE IN THE INTERIOR. FOUR MONTHS IN THE WILDS. FOOD SUPPLIES LOST. By Telegraph—l'ro,ss Association—Copyrielit (Rec. March 19, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, March 18. Anxiety as to the safely of the exploring expedition headed by Mr. Staniforth Smith, Administrator of Pnpmi, has boon relieved by the safe arrival of Mr. Smith, and two of his companions, Messrs. Pratt and Bell, at Thursday Island. They report that seventeen of tlie natives accompanying the expedition perished during the journey. Mr. Smith set out from Port Moresby, the capital of Papua, about November 18 last, and should have been back about the beginning of January. He was accompanied by the two white officers mentioned above, Messrs. Bell and Pratt, and a party of 12 native police and 14 carriers. The object of the expedition was to visit the locality of a coalfield about 100 miles inland from the coast. The party had not been heard from since December 7, when two officers accompanying it were sent to the coast, with word that Mr. Smith wished the Government steamer to pick him up at a certain spot on January G. Perilous Adventures, A Thursday Island message states the expedition experienced extreme hardship and privation in the course of some extraordinary adventures. They ascended the river Kikori for fifty miles,> and then struck north-east into unknown country, crossing three large rivers. One river they followed 250 miles up from the coast, and encountered many rapids. Food supplies were short, and the only sustenance to be had was palm pith. On turning back, the party constructed rafts to make the downward journey. In shooting rapids on the river several carriers were drowned. Finally came a series of rapids, extending for 150 miles, and the explorers were forced to abandon the river, and make their way through rough country. The natives here supplied them with food. They reached the river again, and used rafts to complete the journey. Mr. Smith's Report. In a message to Mr. Batchelor, Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Smith states that in the early part of the journey he crossed a high mountain range and pushed down the other side expecting to reach alluvial country drained by the Tumari and Mamu Rivers. On January 21 he reached what he believed to be the upper waters of the Strickland River. By this, time the parly had walked 251 miles across exceedingly rough jungle and scrub through. which they had to, cut. their way. The river was found .to be .impassable, with rapids running through gorges 1200 feet high. As it was impossible to .cross, the expedition proceeded along the bank and later made a /raft and started down tho river. The rapids became worse, and the raft was dashed to pieces. Some of the carriers were killed, and the food supplies, tents, and baggage were lost. After live days the members of the expedition, who were scattered on both sides of tho river, got' together. They were foodless and decided to travel the river bank until the rapids ceased. Continuing on they travelled 120 miles in 31 days. Frequent stoppages were necessary as the supplies of sago in the country were very precarious. On the rapids ceasing rafts were made and tho party reached the coast, finding that the river was the Kikori. They had followed it fir 300 miles. Mr. Smith adds that lie could not have got through without the ipleiidid co-oper-ation of Messrs. Bell and Pratt. Valuable Exploring Work. In a'further message to Mr. Batchelor, Mr. Smith says the expedition returned to Goaribari on March 5, and thence crossed to Thursday Island. In tho course of their wanderings they visited the upper waters of the Strickland River, returning along the NorthWest Kikori, travelling 374 miles on foot, and 150 by the river.

The area traversed was totally unexplored country, and the major portion of the exploration of the territory has been completed by the party, and most important information gathered. They found a small coal creek near tho Lower Kikori, and a large field of excellent coal on the Upper Kikori. Tho Western Division of Papua, instead of being largely low-lying alluvial country, consists in its greater portion of an elevated plateau, the lower valley of which is 2000 feet above sea level. The country is a vast upraised mass of coral. The upper waters and watersheds of tho great rivers emptying into the Gulf are now fairly defined, completing the knowledge of the river systems of the territory. There is now also data for estimating tho population with somo accuracy. Mr. Smith also says that ho established friendly relations with the bushmen everywhere and that there was no fighting. Sago was found growing inland up to an elevation of 3500 feet. Tho Party Much Surprised. Mr. Smith believed that tho river he was descending was the Strickland. He was much sufprised on arrival at an old camping ground to discover that he had been on the Kikori all the time. Tho explorers found a food depot set up by one of tho search parties, and secured a boat and travelled to Daru, from where a lugger brought Ihem to Thursday Island. Tho search parties are not yet aware of tho safety of the explorers.' All the members of the party are well. MINISTERIAL CONGRATULATIONS. (Rec. March 20, 0.30 a.m.) Melbourne, March 19. Mr. Batchelor has congratulated Mr. Staniforth Smith on his safe return.