26 
passed through a somewhat dense undergrowth of a small Licuala sp., where 
the pretty white Medinilla arfakensis, almost a small tree, a very handsome 
Bulbophyllum covering a prostrate log, and the climbing Dichrotrichium 
brevipes, another of Beccari’s Hatam records, were also growing. From an 
Open space we caught a glimpse of the buttress of the ridge we had descended 
from, with the glorious Agathis trees towering far above the rest of the 
forest. 
Farther on, at another unusually large cleared resting-space. vaulted 
over by trees, we came upon some horizontal sticks, resting on a couple of 
forked supports stuck in the ground, on which a number of little forked 
prongs were arranged in groups. Waspiri exclaimed when he saw this 
peculiar arrangement, explaining that it was the practice of the Coast people 
to have these places, which show what parties have recently been in the 
mountains, the arrangement of the little prongs indicating how many and 
whether women or children, if the parties had returned, or if any of their 
members had been killed. On this occasion it was made out that a man and 
woman, missing from Wariap, had been killed in the hills. 
Finally, always working east, we passed through the bamboo clumps, 
which herald cultivation, on to a large plantation, with a solitary house in 
the centre. Here an old man showed us the way down to the Momi River, 
an impossibly steep track, up which, considering the way it was worn, the 
people of the house must fetch all their water every day. 
From this plantation a view up to the Serao ridge showed the “kebun,” 
in which we had camped on the second night, and also the house of the 
head-hunters on the lower slopes. 
Camping by the river that night we reached Wariap next day through 
the “korang”’ forest, joining our old tract later, just before the Pandanus 
group. 
At Wariap my first inquiry was for the ‘ Valk,’ as the Commander had 
most kindly promised to call in there on his return from the Mamberamo 
River, on the chance of our being there. As there was no news I decided 
not to wait in that sand-fly stricken spot, but, giving the men two days’ rest, 
to return by the beach to Manokeeari, which everybody at Manokoeari, even 
Mr. van Oosterzee, had told me was quite impossible. The Serzan, however, 
after searching inquiries, found that this route was feasible and well-known 
to the Wariap people, taking four days. Two “ praus ” from Wariap carried © 
kit and provisions, landin g at night at the native camping-places, to which it 
is always wisest to keep, though somewhat long, as they are determined by 
good water and landing-stages, 
I had hoped to be in time for the December boat to Java, but on crossing 
in “ praas ” from Andai to Manokoeari, once past the mouth of the estuary, 
we could see the smoke of the steamer across the bay. Watching intently 
which direction she took, the Serzan exclaimed, “ Poelang !” (Home). This 
