Star Mountains Expedition to Dutch New Guinea in 1959

In 1959, the Royal Dutch Geographical Society (KNAG) organised a multidisciplinary expedition (Geology, Anthropology, Linguistics, Zoology and Botany) in collaboration with, among others, the Rijksherbarium in Leiden, a special expedition to the Sterrenberg in the Central Mountain Region of the former Dutch New Guinea. This area was the last piece of Dutch New Guinea that was not yet under Dutch government. There was almost nothing known about the area. One did not even know if people were living. The author made this as adventurous as a historic expedition a moss expert. This special book shows his personal experiences and impressions in the form of a diary. This book is read as an important addition to the work of Dr L D Brongerma and Chief G F Venema, New Guinea White Heart on the same theme. This is the report of an exciting expedition, with the team having two helicopters, one of which escaped during the expedition. As a result, they had to fall back on Papua carriers, on Papua runners, and had to send the expedition team smoke signals to show where they were. In this way, the modern world became familiar with the locals who lived in the Stone Age. The Papuans proved to be extremely friendly and helpful people.