Item 269 - Collection of papers belonging to James Lindsay Taylor

Includes a report written by Sgd A. A. Roberts, Acting ADO (Acting District Officer), 'A report of the Native Inhabitants of the Chimbu Valley, being a broader outline of observations made in Patrol Report No. B.40/1934 - 1935', (Annexe A), Patrol Report for the Leahy and James Lindsay Taylor expedition from Bena Bena to Mount Hagen from April 1933 - October 1933, 225pp, carbon. Annexe A is part of original Patrol Report No. 40/1934-1935, which was lost (as noted on cover). It reports on observations with reference to: Geographical situation; Numerical population; Description of Natives; Family life - houses and agriculture; Group life - Meeting places and warfare; Marriage and ceremonials; Sorcery; Spiritual beliefs; Disposal of the dead; Health and primitive treatment of injury; Trade routes and migration.7pp, Ts, carbon. The 1933 expedition identified many previously unknown Native groups, a new mountain range and several new valleys were found. It confirmed that all the rivers running south from the Bismarcks joined the Purari River, which enters the sea in the Gulf of Papua. This area 'may prove to be the best and most important part of New Guinea of the future', p 225.