In Cannibal Land.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1921, Page 3

In Cannibal Land.

, SPUNKY, Nov 22. Miss Beatrice Grimshaw, a weh- . known authoress, who owns an islet off the'-Papuan coast, and has been living there since her arrival from England eight years ago, describes New Guinea as the larder of tile world. ‘*lt is not alone a land flowing with milk and honey, but it can supply every other feed needful to civilisation she told nn interviewer the other day. "I am sure it is the cheapest place in the world in which to live. I know of pile family, a planter and his wife and several children, w lies,, weekly expenses run to fl. and that is spent on a few odd groceries, liul thev have a dailv menu of turkey, chicken, ham. polk, fl nit . vegetable... eggs, and cost ltd-:, and the. whole is raised mi the plantation.” Mentioning Port Moresby, the capital of Papua. Miss O'fimshnw confined herself to one sweeping phrase. “The sink of the Pacific." “I asked a very well-travelled man recently," she added, “if he knew worse place, and he had to think, and then remembered another tropical town, which, however, shall Ik' nameless.” 1 Miss Grimshaw Is at present in Sydney mi her way to England on a. business vasit. She says she finds a ready market for her island fiction, and, under contract, to a well-known publishing! firm turns mu two hooks of ndvrn- ■ Hire, life, and love every year. She will return to Papua next year. Asked if she missed social intercourse and the clatter .of the tea-cups. Miss 1 Grimshaw laughed and said: “1. live ! amid the tropical juygle because f want to. Naturally I meet many people and dispense a simple hospitality. liutf to lie ill society in and of the throng that has no charms for me. I much prefer my neighbours the cannibals. They are singularly honest as to intention and in miilook and “far from the madding crowd” engenders n wholesome fear of an over-cultivated modern eivlisation. I think lam quite safe in echoing a song whirl, has t-eache.l even

our latitudes “This is the Life.” even though I have no trams nor trains, and have to negotiate most of my jourtievings to the nearest white settlement -■-Samurai—-in my whaleboat with a Ruzzy-lmaili'il crew of men who are still eamiilials."