[Journal, 3rd Archbold Expedition to New Guinea] March 23, 1938 to June 9, 1939
Page 163
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by American Museum of Natural History Library. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
The reason for these people passing over the highlands still remains a mystery. To me it seems most probable that they are people of lateral valleys of the Grand Valley passing to the country of friendly tribes of clans separated by the territory of other clans probably hostile. Friday, August 12, 1938. Most of the day occupied in making pictures with the 8x10 camera: various foregrounds to views of Mt. Wilhelmina. Plants for the day include a Podocarpus (#9341) from a forest patch at the head of the grass valley E. and NE of camp. This is the fourth species of Conifer from this locality and it much resembles a species which occured on the Waria slope Mt. Albert Edward (i.e. Podocarpus brassii Pitzer) Weather: foggy morning, followed by a very dry, sunny day. Saturday, August 13, 1938 Plane dropped mail at camp after having delivered supplies by parachute to Teerink and van Arcken in the Grand Valley. van Arcken was found at the pre-arranged meeting place: Teerink at a position 15 km NW, where he had been camped for some days. After dropping our letters the plane proceeded to explore the eastern end of the Grand Valley, and found that the river cut through the Central coast. Range and joined one of the large rivers flowing to the southwest. Low clouds over the southern coastal plain prevented the plane crew from ascertaining their position and the identity of the river into which the waters of the Grand Valley empty. Archbold reports over the radio that a numerous population extends down to the southern plain. The gorge through the range is also heavily peopled; the gardens being very steep and retained by stone walls.