Northern Papua Yields Its Secrets to Exploring Trip

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 83, 24 April 1937, Page 16

Northern Papua Yields Its Secrets to Exploring Trip

SYDNEY.— Lake Eatubn, set among rugged motxntains 2600 feet up, very deep and clear, was perhaps the most striking discovery by ivan Champion7s expedition in northern Papua. The expedition returned to eivilization after a seven-months* trek through the last of Papua 's unexplored teTritory. Around aud about the lake dwell a large population. Its shores and islands, and the adjoining flats aro all oceupied by prosperous and happy tribes, These lake natives were most friendly. From them th'e expedition obtained supplies of sago in return for much-coveted pearl shell and cowries. Tho patrol rested a week in this mountain Eden. The lake was examined and no bottom could be f ound at 20 fathoms. The expedition took 150 days to travel the 90 miles to the lake. For most of that time they lived on sweet potatoes. Stores had to be relayed from point to point, making progress slow. An incredible sight, met on the way to the lake, was the Upper Kikofx Eiver. Eapida roared through stupendous gorges 2000 feet deep. The party seouted for ,26 days before finding a crossing of this swift- stream. Four days north of Lake Katubu, the pxplorers halted on a steep, rugged spur 8000 feet up. It was named Mount Cham-' pion after the expedition 's leader. Their track then lay through a vast system of valleys, where the path of the Hides expedition of 1935 was crossed. These fertile valleys were densely populated and food supplies were replenished. The expedition turned Ihexi toward the Purari Eiver and c-ivilizatiou. But first it had to cross a wild and massivc range. The explorers camped oue night amid ice o:x Mount Gilna, 11,400 feet above sea level.