COLLECTED IN DUTCH NEW GUINEA. 3 
The whole coastal plain in this region is low and marshy, and the steamers which 
transported the expedition anchored about 15 miles up the Utakwa River between 
banks covered with Nipah palms and swampy littoral jungle. The * Launch " or ** Base 
Camp" was placed another 13 miles up stream on the right bank of the Setakwa, an 
eastern tributary of the Utakwa, in high forest growing on deep alluvial soil entirely 
devoid of rock and stones, but so little above the river-level that the bivouac, itself 
situated on the river-edge, was several times slightly flooded, and on these occasions the 
surrounding country was knee-deep under water. It is probable that during the rainy 
season, May to September, this region is often severely inundated. 
Practically no plant-collecting was done here, as country of this nature, 60 miles to 
the eastward, had already been worked by the botanists of Dr. Lorentz's expeditions to 
Mt. Wilhelmina (vide A. F. Heerderschee, Nova Guinea: Résultats de l'Expédition. . 
1912-1913). The jungle swarmed with minute bush-ticks, and the after-effects "T a 
walk in it were most unpleasant. 
The next camp, “ Canoe Camp,” was situated at a spot which, for our purpose, was the 
head of navigation, though small canoes could probably be taken, if necessary, a few 
miles higher. This camp, 150 ft. above sea-level, was about 22 miles up the Setakwa 
from the “ Launch Camp," and 34 miles from the sea in a direct line. Here the river 
ran in a bed of boulders and coarse gravel, with the banks on its eastern side 50-60 ft. 
in height, while the foothills began a couple of miles away: immediately behind the 
camp, however, the country was low-lying and swampy. 
The overland journey began from this point, and camps were made thereafter a day's 
march apart: in the early stages these journeys were as much as six miles in length, but 
later, on the high slopes of Carstensz, they shortened to little more than two *. 
Travelling from the Canoe Camp to Camp I, some 24 miles of swampy land were 
traversed before the foothills were met; thence for another 24 miles the route led up 
and down across gullies and ridges until Camp I was made at 500 ft.; perhaps 100 ft. 
lower than the highest ridge crossed. The camp was placed on the bank of a stony- 
bedded stream with some swampy land opposite. 
Soon after leaving Camp I the route ascended a narrow ridge and continued along 
this until the next camp was made at a height of 1830 ft. For the last third of the 
march the track ran over sharp and broken limestone: the greatest height attained 
along this section was 1900 ft. The summits of the ridges followed were often aeri 
4-5 ft. broad. USE A 
From Cute II the way led along a continuation of the limestone ridge sent 
mentioned, then dipped down to a stream at 1600 ft., meandered through involved 
muddy country with many small brooks and limestone. ae and then n ascended the 
side of a hill to Camp III at t 2500 ft. HA | 
. These figures are taken from the route survey of the journey on a aida of 1: .50, ,000, and are not the actual 
distances travelled, which were, of course, much greater, — in the: more broken parts of the mountains. 
die e. B 2 
