CHAPTER XII 



The Camp at Parimau—A Plague of Beetles— First Discovery of the 

 Tapiro Pygmies— Papuans as Carriers— We visit the Clearing of 

 the Tapiro— Remarkable Clothing of Tapiro— Our Relations with 

 the Natives— System of Payment— Their Confidence in Us— 

 Occasional Thefts— A Customary Peace-offering— Papuans as 

 Naturalists. 



While it was the business of some of us during the 

 early months of the expedition to stop at the base-camp 

 and despatch canoes laden with stores up the river, 

 others remained at Parimau to estabhsh there a second 

 permanent camp and to find, if possible, a way of 

 approaching the higher mountains. It should be said 

 that Parimau is some distance from the mountains— the 

 high point nearest to it, Mount Tapiro (7660 ft.) is some 

 twelve miles to the North, but it was no longer possible 

 to travel in the direction of the mountains by way of 

 the Mimika River, which had dwindled to a very small 

 size at Parimau, therefore it was necessary to find a 

 new route from there onward. 



The first camp at Parimau was made on the shallow 

 sandy side of the river close to the native village ; the 

 Papuans generally place their villages on gently sloping 

 rather than on steep banks for convenience in hauling 

 up their canoes. The cooHes, such as there were of 

 them, were occupied on the river, the natives for the 



