58 



Timbong (Indt., Xo. 604). A large tree, yielding a Timong (Baccaurea papuana, No. 625, Tap. 230). 



soft woolly wood. 



As one travels through the forest the scent of the large 



of timber. 



Amint (Indt., No. 605). Another of the same type caulifloral panicles of cream flowers that festoon the 



trunk of this little tree is overpowering. 



\ i. r m 7 +. :** t'™™* —•• Kfr. ana Pn. o\ In density this rain forest was much the same as that 



Aruntem (rlanchonia timorensis, Ao. oOb, lap. z). I / • -d *i. xi * i j ti ~„„« + 



rrn - • v . • _ • • + i Mnii.n^ encountered m Papua on the fiat lands. Ihe great 



1 his species grows to an immense size in the Markliam . r* • * , , . ., r *£ . 



rr n ^ Tx ^ xv. j j i «r+,™ mixture oi species and comparative scarcity ot any nrst- 



\ a ley. It prefers the damp and swampy localities, rate ^^ » ^ ^ extent of ^ for ^ 



and thrives m social formation with oarcocepliatus , , > .,.,.. r ^ • .1 • .♦ n J~L» 



j , , 4.1^ + • 1 r v.- i. t elude any possibility of working this timber commer- 



cordata and a prop-rooted tree, material ox wnicn 1 . ln \, r J ~ . £ .,i P . , , , 1 rtll ,i 



ri * ,i . 1 A ^ 1 • i - in ivr - x- cially. At one time forest of this type stretched all the 



did not collect, but which is probably a Myristica. 



Minzimb (Albizzia procera, No. 607). This is not a 

 large tree and its wood is of no consequence, but it is 



way along the coast between the mountains inland and 

 the sea and all along and across the vast valleys of the 

 Markham and Ramu Rivera. To-day artificially-formed 



**!!Z!!^^ S^ss la » ds have taken the place of the forests on the 



best of the land and in the less fertile areas a secondary 

 weed tree growth has established itself. This is the 

 case along the lower slopes of the mountains facing the 



savannah forest tree. It is not common nor is it 

 conspicuous in the rain forest except in the dry season, 

 when it is leafless, and therefore more visible. When 

 the natives have cleared the forest and grass lands have 

 established themselves then this species springs up. It 

 resists fire well and soon establishes itself in open 

 savannah forest formation. 



Woif {Bomb ax rnalabariciim). Another deciduous 

 tree. It is a giant and rivals Octomeles sumutraim 

 throughout New Guinea. In the Yula forests it is the 



sea. 



Grasslands of Mabkham and Ramu. 



largest of all species. 



Bundur (Breynia cernua, No. 611, Pap. 166). 

 common little undergrowth. 



Ebeve (Wysoxylum sp., No. 612). 



This 



is a 



Inland up the Markham and Ramu we find similar 

 conditions to those met with in the northern division of 

 Papua, with the difference that whereas the plains of 

 the northern division are some 60 miles deep the plains 

 A of the Markham and Ramu cannot be less than 120 

 miles. The width varies with the opening and closing 

 of the valley. In some places it is 20 miles wide, while 



medium tree, and it yields a rather poor looking pale at the heads of these rivers it is barely 5 miles wide. I 



wood with a cedar-like smell. 



visited the lower portion of the Markham Valley and 



Ongo (Dracontomrhnn manqiferum, No. 613, Pap. 1). ft? *"$ of ^ e Ramu Valley and from the height of 



Considering its commonness iii Papua, I was surprised 13 ^° ^et-Ae summit of fe ar a waket-I looked down 



to find this a rather rare tree on the Markham. Its wood ?? }} ie whole area of grass lands. *-* ~ A - 



is the nearest approach to walnut that I have seen. 



bird's-eye view, the yellow 



A.t first, in this 

 grass looked like some great 



There is a varicly of species of the same genus which ]f aiul SG *> *** ! asked my native guide the name of 

 yields an edible fruit, but I have been quite unable to ho ; water and he laughed and said, lhat is not water 

 distinguish one from the other, and the natives them- , but , S™ 88 la , n<L . Jt *»? * great surprise to me, for I 



selves must see and taste the fruits before they can 

 decide which it is. As a rule, a suffix meaning good or 



had not at that time visited the Markham or Ramu, and 

 [ imagined the grass plains that I had, of course, 



eating is added to the native name, when the edible one Jl eard of >. to ™ like ^ <jf the northern division of 



is spoken of. 



Mafunga fung (67/ rysopJi i/l/um Roxburghii, No. 



Papua, viz., large and small patches of grass fringed 

 with rain forest. Here the grasslands are uninter- 



614). A case-wood timber. It splits readily and is rupted and sweep on and on ] to the limit of vision. When 



commonly used by the natives for boards in house con- 



I did visit the area I found that there were a few trees 



™ It is a tall five, and its crown is wide- * bout > hl ] 1 Y ? r ? f ® w > a ?<* ^% Sarcocephalus in the 



spreading and is usually a good place to look for daniper lands and Altbizzia in the drier. Here and 



struchoii. 



pigeons, for the fruit is much appreciated by birds. 

 Kuwi (Indt., Xi). 015). The wood of this tree is 



there thick-barked Clerodendrons held their own against 



fire, and along the watercourses, where the banks were 



very similar to the 'last one, but the bark and general } li ^> 6 rew m Erythrina. For the most part the Ramu 



appearance of f lie bole and crown is quite different. 

 Also, the wood has a curious linseed oil-like odour. 



Tizo (Indt., Xo. 616). A large tree yielding a 

 cabinet wood of a brown colour. The inner bark yields 

 a gum, ft is rare. 



Tow i nd (Rubiaceae, No. 617). A third story tree 



which bears very ornamental, fragrant white flowers. 



banks were too low and subject to flooding and carried 



only wild 



sugar 



cane. On page 14 of the Papuan 



portion of this report I have outlined the conditions 

 which are brought about by the native in his farming 

 operations and which finally lead to the establishment 

 of such vast areas of grasslands as are to be found 

 on the Markham and Ramu. On the better and deeper 



Angaw (Indt., Xo. 618). This is a large tree which alluvium kuvi or lalang (Imperata arundinacea) takes 

 yields an interlocked hard timber suitable for general f hrm hold > whlle °!\ the 



construction. 



more gravelly soils a 



establishes itself. This grass also 



goes up into the hills on both sides of the great vallev 



kangaroo grass 



Dua (Manqifera minor, No. 619, Pap. 41, 170). The ^ { u )« i^rT Z7 TtV n • ♦ oT * 7 -a a 



v •! f ; T . ' * , i. and is to be iound eating its way into the forests, aided 



common wild mango. It attains tremendous dimen- 

 sions all along the coast of Xew Guinea. When the 

 natives have destroyed all other trees they reserve this 



and even plant it for its fruit. While not to be com- \ jr }) ; n i,:;\ 



pan^l with the cultivated Indian mango, it is neverthe- 4i lo Bmollon rain fnmcf wA ^^+i^iio o^^ ; \ \ 



tL. - M i_.u. .jjw- f. .!„. ^ w ,u. J *iL v—u he Btoulei ram torest and foothills species Having been 



by the natives' hunting fires and clearing operations, as 

 high as -3,000 feet. Here and there at this altitude one 

 finds the two large Araucarias (A. Cuniiinghami and 



over the grass lands, 



standing 



dead 



less a valuable addition to the fruits of the Territory. 

 Kusu (Dy&oxylum sp.(?), Xo. 620). A medium tree 



yielding a pale nondescript type of wood. 



Popor, Baccaurea sp.(?), ~No. 622). A medium- 

 sized tree yielding a light soft wood. 



Aruntimf (Sarcocephalus cordaius, Xo. 024, Pap. 



158). A tall slender tree that prefers the damper 



burnt up altogether. With the help of this kangaroo 

 grass the Savannah of the Kamu-Markham Valley has 

 extended high up into the forests of the foothill type 

 and actually reached what I 

 mountain forests. 



am calling the mid- 



SWAMPY RaIX-I?OREST. 



situations and is generally found growing with Plan- Thar these grass lands do not extend right through 



chonla sp. It yields a fair pine substitute. 



Ma 



