“THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1873 
DALBERTIS’ EXCURSION INTO THE IN- 
. TERIOR OF NEW GUINEA 
_ JW a preceding number of NaTuRE (vol. viii., p. 305) 
“1 some account has been given of the new Paradise- 
birds and other novelties recently discovered by Signor 
‘Luigi Maria D’Albertis in the interior of New Guinea. 
_ Signor D’Albertis, who is now in New South Wales, has 
_ lately published in the Sydey Herald an account of his 
_ month’s excursion into the interior of that ferra tncoguita, 
_ from which the following particulars are taken :— 
_ OD’Albertis started from Andai, a small village about 
ten miles from Havre Dorey, where, along with his com- 
‘panion Dr. Beccari, he had been resident with a Dutch 
_ missionary. By the aid of presents to the Corono, or 
_ headman of Andai, and promises of further payment on 
_ arriving at his destination, he succeeded in obtaining the 
“services of six natives to carry his baggage and provisions 
| to Atam, a populous village in Mount Arfak, where there 
§ was a Corono with whom | he had already made acquaint- 
ance. 
f _ An early hour on September 4, 1872, was fixed for the 
| traveller’s departure, Dr. Beccari, the botanist, proposing 
| to remain at Andai during the absence of his companion. 
_ After crossing a small creek in a canoe, the forest was 
entered. Besides six natives, D’Albertis was accom- 
" panied by a Malay interpreter and the wife of one of the 
' natives, making eight persons in all. After a short walk 
over level ground a steep hill was reached, and crossed by 
_ 4 narrow pathway, fatiguing and difficult. The forest 
_ around was mountainous and gloomy, the silence being 
relieved only by the deep cooing ef pigeons and the hoarse 
voice of a black Megapode (probably Megapodius freyci- 
_ neti), One of the latter served as dinner for the day, 
_ After arriving at the summit of the hill, an hour’s walk 
~ across a level forest-country succeeded, whence a descent 
was made to a stream of water, deliciously clear and 
fresh. After this, hills were again ascended, gradually 
increasing in height, and the road became more and more 
difficult. Here the Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisea 
papuana) was met with, and the large Crowned Pigeons 
_ (Goura coronata) were very numerous. At 4 P.M. a 
height of 1,500 feet above the sea, which was seen to 
the east, not very far distant, had been attained, and after 
a short descent an extensive watercourse, at this time 
nearly dry, was reached. Here natives were first encoun- 
tered ; a tribe of men, women, and children, accompanied 
by dogs and pigs, emerged from behind the large stones 
of the water-course. The men were armed with bows and 
arrows and the farang, a large knife, narrowed near the 
handle and widened towards the extremity, Some of the 
men approached and were friendly and inquisitive, whilst 
others kept at a distance, and formed small picturesque 
groups about the rocks of the watercourse. The women 
were very timid, and also kept apart in groups along with 
the children. Upon inquiries through the interpreter, it 
appeared that these Papuans were returning from an ex- 
pedition to the sea-side to procure salt. After taking 
_ leave of some of the natives, who were going in another 
direction, D’Albertis accompanied the others to their 
No, 207—VoL, viu1, 
- NATURE 
oan = aie 
501 
house, which was situated about 500 feet above the tor- 
rent. Here the forest was of the same gloomy character, 
but relieved by occasional clearings. At sunset a magni- 
ficent view over the harbour of Dorey and the island of 
Mansinam was obtained, and the birds raised their voices 
in chorus to salute the passing day. The house in which 
the night was passed contained four families. It was 
built on trunks of trees and entered by a long ladder. 
The stranger was well received, and presented with sugar 
canes, in return for which he gave his hosts tobacco. 
The following day (Sept. 5), after some little difficulty, 
a start was made about 8 A.M., the chief of the house and 
some women accompanying the party. After descending 
to the watercourse passed on the previous day, the 
ascent of Mount Putat was recommenced, under the 
shade of large and umbrageous trees. At noon, the 
summit and village of Putat were reached, whence a fine 
view of the coast of Dorey and island of Mansieain were 
obtained. To the south-west rose some high mountains 
covered with dense vegetation. After an interval of re- 
pose, our traveller was anxious to depart, but was 
answered by the natives, that they had already arrived at 
Atam, and that they were not going any farther. It was 
not without much difficulty, and Signor D’Albertis show- 
ing them by his pocket barometer that they had not 
arrived at the requisite elevation of the place in question, 
that it was ultimately arranged that a fresh start should 
be made on the following morning. 
The next day, accordingly, the party quitted the village 
of Putat, escorted by about 20 additional men, women, 
and children, and after descending to about 700 or 800 
feet above the sea-level, commenced to re-ascend up the 
bed of another watercourse. About noon, a small stream 
of fresh water afforded an opportunity for refreshment, 
and at evening, after a further ascent, night-quarters were 
discovered in some uninhabited huts. On continuing 
the journey next day the party still ascended, until the 
summit of the mountain at an elevation of 3,600 feet was 
obtained. Here a halt was made in some huts similar to 
those used for the previous night, and Atam was visible 
to the west on the farther side of a deep valley. At this 
spot the Superb Bird of Paradise (Lopfhorina atra) was 
first seen, but examples were not obtained. To the south 
of the halting-place lofty mountains arose, considered to 
be 9,300 feet in height : to the east the view was impeded 
by thick forests of noble trees. 
On continuing the journey a steep and difficult descent 
of about goo ft. was made to the bed of a large river, con- 
taining more water than other streams previously passed, 
and said by the natives to flow into the Bay of Geelvink, 
After following up this river-bed for two or three miles, a 
rough track led away to Atam, the first houses of which 
were reached about 3 P.M. Here Signor D’Albertis deter- 
mined to stop, being much exhausted by the journey, the 
latter part of which had been rendered fatiguing by the 
slipperiness of the paths caused by heavy rain. Next day 
messages were sent for the Corono or headman of Atam, 
who was resident higher up the mountain. D’Albertis 
was anxious to proceed farther himself, but his guides 
refused, stating that they had accomplished their agree- 
ment to bring him to Atam, and of this our traveller was 
satisfied, finding himself now at an elevation of 3,500 ft. 
above the sea-level, 
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