40 PYGMIES AND PAPUANS 



between low mangrove-covered banks. About three 

 miles from the sea the river divides into an East and 

 West branch. The East branch, the Mimika proper, 

 brings down not more than one-quarter of the volume 

 of water of the West branch, of which it may be said 

 to be a tributary. It is remarkable that the party who 

 visited the Mimika in 1902 apparently overlooked the 

 fact that the West branch is actually the main river. 

 Above the junction of the two branches the water of 

 the Mimika is of a brown chocolate colour which 

 proclaims it, though we did not know it at the time, 

 to be a mere jungle stream rising from comparatively 

 low ground. The water of the West branch on the 

 contrary is pale in colour and at times of flood almost 

 milky-white, being charged with lime-stone from the 

 high mountains where it rises. 



Proceeding for two or three miles up the Mimika, 

 which had become above the junction a compara- 

 tively insignificant stream forty or fifty yards across 

 and very tortuous, the exploring party in the steam 

 launch arrived at the village of Wakatimi situated 

 on the right bank of the river. The village was crowded 

 with natives, numbering perhaps one thousand people, 

 who gave the visitors a most remarkable reception. 

 As soon as the boat appeared in sight the natives 

 crowded down to the bank and shouted shrilly, men, 

 women and children. When they came nearer the 

 people threw themselves into the shallow water and 

 many of them plastered themselves with mud, while 

 the women performed their curious dance, if dance it 

 can be cahcd. It is not a concerted performance. 



