2 
‘N. New Guinea offered the most promising field, the Dutch, from their base 
in the Moluccas, again holding most ef the trumps. All navigation or 
detailed survey of the N.W. coasts of the country, with investigation into 
the numbers and condition of the inhabitants, dates from this period—about 
the 18th century. 
In recent years, thanks to the dictates of fashion and enhanced value, the 
volume of the trade in Birds-of-Paradise has again enormonsly increased, 
regulated, however, in the Dutch Possessions by most adequate measures, 
stringently enforced, for the protection of these beautiful creatures. 
All intercourse in N.W. New Guinea during the open season is dependent 
on this trade. Thanks to the enterprise of Tidorese, Malay, Arab, and 
Chinese traders, in whose hands it is chiefly concentrated, the coast Papuans 
have been brought more or less into contact with the outside world. This 
has resulted in a certain amount of intermarriage, as a ready means of con- 
solidating and extending trade relations in the chief centres of distribution, 
and also in spreading a knowledge of Malay, even in remoter communities. 
In the season the chief trading-stations swarm with the miscellaneous agents 
engaged in this lucrative business, whilst the Papuans are occupied in hunting 
in the interior on their own account, or for the various Ternate traders or 
agents, so that it is next to impossible to obtain quarters or procure native 
hunters or carriers. It is advisable to take this fact into consideration in ° 
connection with biological work in this part of the country. 
2. SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS WORK. 
Geelvink Bay was first discovered and mapped out in 1705 (21, i. 
138-152) by Jaeob Weyland, who commanded the ships ‘ Geelyink’ and 
‘Nova Guinea.’ In the course of his work he touched at Dorei Ba a 
situated to the N.W. of Geelvink Bay. 
In 1775 Forrest (1, 95-114) in the ‘Tartar, a 10-ton ship, in which 
he had sailed from Balambangan to obtain nutmeg and clove trees for 
the purpose of introducing them into that island, ! spent part of January 
and February at Dorei, enjoying fine weather all the time, and his 
excellent straightforward account is quite one of the best relating to this 
place. The ‘Tartar’ lay off Wousi, where Forrest describes the whaleback 
Papuan houses spreading over the water, as they are still to be seen at the 
present day, and also the Arfak Mountains rising below Dorei. He even 
mentions Oranswari and Wariap as two inhabited places along the coast 
to the south, and notes the correct time to reach them by fast sailing in a 
favourable wind. He states that the people had many praus, and were said 
! Off N. Borneo, 
