CHAPTER XIII 



IN CENTRAL DUTCH NEW GUINEA 



IT was in December 1910 that I learnt that the 

 Dutch expedition to the Snow Mountains had found 

 the difficulties of penetrating the inland country too 

 great, and that they had received instructions from 

 Captain Schafer, who was in general charge of both 

 Dutch expeditions, to give up the attempt and 

 descend the river. I received at the same time a 

 very kind invitation from the Dutch authorities to 

 join the Island River expedition, which was proving 

 more successful. I therefore made my way down to 

 Merauke, sent my collections forward to Europe, and 

 joined the Island River party. 



The Island River is a very fine stream which, on 

 nearing the Dutch New Guinea coast, splits its great 

 volume into branches, forming an extensive delta. 

 It is possible to travel up the river by steamer 150 

 miles inland. When we had got that far by steamer 

 we disembarked on to a hulk which had been moored 

 there as a supply base for the expedition. At this 

 hulk we repacked our stores and went up by steam 

 launch a further two-days' journey. Then from this 

 Launch Camp we were carried by canoes for four days 

 up the stream of the river. The rapid character of 



219 



