Anthropological Observations in New Guinea

Abstract

INFORMATION relating to the work of an expedition of anthropological, ethnographical and linguistic investigation in the little-known north-eastern region of New Guinea under the leadership of Dr. Geofg Holtker is given by Dr. Otto Schlaginhaufen in the current issue of the bulletin of the Swiss Anthropological and Ethnographical Society (Bull. Schw. Gesell.f. Anthrop. u. Ethnol., 16, 1940). The expedition, which had recently returned at the time of writing, was in the field for the three years 1936-39. Its operations covered the coastal region south-eastwards from the mouth of the Sepik River, and the coastal and inland territory on the east side of the lower waters of the Ramu River, and country in the basin of the Mbur, a tributary of the Ramu, as well as islands of the coast including Manam and Dampier. Of the peoples under investigation by the expedition a proportion were classifiable linguistically as belonging to the Melanesian stock, but the greater number were Papuan. Anthropological observations were made by Dr. Holtker on members of the former group on the mainland-Sepa and Wanami living to the south of the coastal peoples of Monumbo (Pots-damhaven) and on the islands. The Papuan group examined included the Bosgung on the Mbur, Watum to the south of the Sepik and among inland peoples, Tanggum, Ariaw, Mikarew, Dinam and Akekom. Observations were made on 1,685 individuals, both adults and children.