NEW GUINEA AND THE PAPUANS 441 



progress made has been considerable, and it is claimed 

 by the Administrator tliat a very large proportion of the 

 coast tribes understand that a Government has been 

 estabhshed. Hundreds ask for Government interference 

 when they get into trouble with their neighbours, and 

 over a great part of the coast line a shipwrecked crew 

 would now not only escape murder, but receive assistance. 

 The great obstacles to the progress of civilisation in the 

 island are the non-existence of chiefs or rulers of any 

 kind ; the ever -prevailing state of intertribal warfare ; 

 and the innumerable languages resulting from tliis 

 isolation of tribes. The establishment of peace and 

 order cannot be otherwise than a lengthy and difficult 

 task. 



