Evening star., 1938-07-24

OF Mammals, American Museum OF
Natural History, since he and fpe
companions feD in a seapIane in
June from San Diego, Calit., 5000
miles across the Pacific to join the
1888 Ne,o Guinea expedition in the
Netherlands East Indies. The e1-
ped,tto1 expects to spend about tDo
years IN study OF mammals, birds
and plants in NeW Guinea.
BY RICHARD ARCHBOLD.
HOLLANDIA, Dutch New Guinea,
July 23.-The giant twin-motored
hylng boat Cuba, flown by your
correspondent and manned by the
regular crew of five, made a safe
landing and take-off few days ago
ct Lake Habbema, a small, isolated
body of water at approximately IL 900
feet altitude in the heart of the NOUN
famous section of unexplored New
Guinea.
This is believed to be the first
time an airplane has successfully land
ed on and taken of from water at
such high altitude.
Dutch East Indies authorities were
enthusiastic at the success of the land
Ing in section of the island about
which very little is known. Inhabited
By primitive people, surrounded by
hundreds of miles of almost impenetra-
BILE jungles and impossible mountains.
this section of the second largest
island remained. until the flight of
the Cuba, challenge to the explorer.
In recent weeks we have made
several reconnaissance flights in the
vicinity of Lake Habbema, taking
hundreds of aerial photographs, map
ping the country and seeking a place
where the big airplane could safely
land and establish an advance base
camp.
Native Villages In Valley.
On one of the early flights, a very
large valley, not previously known
and containing may native villages,
all surrounded by well-cultivated
gardens, was clerly discernible from
the air. From study of the aerial
photographs. the authorities believe
this valley and adjacent ones contain
by far the largest concentration of
native population on the entire island.
During the next two or three weeks.
about 130 men and three months
supplies will be flown from our Hol-
lAndla base camp to Lake Mabbema,
where we shall establish an advance
' camp. The personnel will consist
Of several scientists, about so soldiers
and number of native porters whom
we brought in from Borneo. The
party will probably remain in the
interior for about a year and then
be brought out by airplane
We plan to make regular flights
from the coast to the advance camp,
with fresh provisions and other things,
including mail and reading material.
The camp at Lake Habbema will be
equipped with a powerful radio so
that messages may be exchanged at
will. The radio is very important
In case Of serious illness or accident.
In addition to routine reports and
requests for special supplies. the ad-
vance party may call for the airplane
in any emergency. In two or three
hours, a sick or injured man can be
safely on his way from the advance
camp to expert medical aid in one
Of the cities several hundred miles
to the west.
Country to Be Explored.
Small parties will explore the sur
rounding country, visit and establish
friendly relations with the natives in
many villages we have sighted from
the air, collect specimens of mammals.
birds and plants and take photo
graphs Of scientific value. Each party
will carry portable radio set. 1t
may be necessary at times to drop
food or medicine to these small par
ties when they are far from their
camp and for this purpose we have
about 200 small parachutes, each
capable of lowering about 70 pounds
without damage.
The 1888 New Guinea expedition
will remain in the field until late sum-
mer OF 1899. The base camp was
esta ablished several weeks ago at Hol-