Ecology,warfare, and politics in the New Guinea highlands

Mervyn Meggitt. Blood Is Their Argument: Warfare Among the Mae Enga Tribesmen of the New Guinea Highlands. Palo Alto: Mayfield, 1977. xii + 223 pp. Tables, figures, glossary, and index. $4.95, paper.     

Fossil frogs from the central highlands of Papua New Guinea

Characteristic features of the pelves of 15 species of extant New Guinean highland frogs (Hylidae and Microhylidae) are described and figured. Ilia among species in these families were found to be relatively invariate with similar sized species often indistinguishable; thus fossil species diversity is therefore likely to be underestimated in such deposits. Nine-two disarticulated ilia from the highland Nombe rockshelter deposit represent a minimum of six species: two Hylidae and four Microhylidae; most of these ilia were deposited in the late Pleistocene before significant human activity at the site. Problems of drawing conclusions about the Pleistocene frog fauna of the area, especially what the main predator was, from such a small sample and limited understanding of the site taphonomy are discussed.     

A possible early age for a diprotodon (Marsupialia: Diprotodontidae) fossil from the Papua New Guinea highlands

MENZIES, J., DAVIES, H.L., DUNLAP, W.J. & GOLDING, S.D., June, 2008. A possible early age for a diprotodon (Marsupialia: Diprotodontidae) fossil from the Papua New Guinea highlands. Alcheringa 32, 129–147. ISSN 0311-5518.

A fossil diprotodon jawbone coated and impregnated with a well-cemented fine breccia or tuff was recovered from weakly consolidated Pleistocene lacustrine sediments near Yonki in the Papua New Guinea highlands. The fine breccia includes angular rock and mineral fragments derived from country rock, accretionary lapilli and clay minerals. It does not include any identifiable primary volcanic material. The presence of accretionary lapilli and lack of volcanic clasts suggests an origin by phreatic eruption—an explosive eruption driven by the violent escape of gas. Minerals in the fine breccia have an age of 13.2 ± 0.2 Ma, middle Miocene, as indicated by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analysis. This is the age of the country rock that was blasted by the phreatic eruption. Igneous activity in the Yonki area is thought to have ceased at 7.4 Ma (younger age limit of Elandora Porphyry; late Miocene), and so it is likely, but not certain, that the phreatic eruption occurred not later than 7.4 Ma. The jawbone, as far as can be told from its poor condition, is dentally similar to the late Pliocene and possibly Pleistocene ‘Kolopsis’ watutense recovered from other sites in New Guinea. Probably, the jawbone, or the living marsupial, was buried in the fine breccia at the time of the phreatic eruption, and its remains were subsequently reworked by river erosion and redeposited in the lacustrine sediments. Recrystallization and loss of primary texture in some of the bone may be a result of heating at the time of, or preceding, the eruption.     

The Rimbunan Hijau Group in the Forests of Papua New Guinea

ABSTRACT

Adding to the existing literature on the history of forestry policy and reform in Papua New Guinea (PNG), this paper focuses on the Malaysian Rimbunan Hijau Group (RH) – the largest actor in PNG's forest industry. Rimbunan Hijau's dominant presence since the 1980s has been accompanied by allegations of illegality, corruption and human rights abuses. This paper outlines RH's initial involvement in PNG's forestry sector and discusses some of the more controversial aspects of its engagement with concession acquisition processes and public policy, as well as its responses.     

The southern highlands from Gourock

The British Mission to Uganda in 1893. By the late Sir Gerald Portal, K.C.M.G., C.B., the British Commissioner. Edited, with a Memoir, by Rennell Rodd, C.M.G. With the Diary of the late Captain Raymond Portal, and an Introduction by Lord Cromer, G.C.M.G. Illustrated from photographs by Colonel Rhodes. London: Edward Arnold, 1894. Pp. 351 and map. Price 21s.

Durch Massailand zur Nilquelle. Beisen und Forschungen der Massai‐Expedition des Deutschen Antisklavereikomite in den Jahren 1891–1S93. Von Dr. Oscar Baumann. Berlin. Geographische Verlagshandlung, Dietrich Reimer, 1894. Pp. 377, Index, Map, and 27 Plates. 140 Illustrations in text.

Die Liparischen Inseln. Erstes Heft, Vulcario : Zweites Heft, Salina. Prag: Heinrich Mercy, 1893.

Polar Gleams : An Account of a Voyage on the Yacht ” Blencathra.” By Helen Peel. With a Preface by the Marquis of Dufferin, and Contributions by Captain Joseph Wiggins and Frederick G. Jackson. London : Edward Arnold, 1894. Pp. 211. Price 15s.

Die Beise S.M. Schiffes ” Zrinyi “ nach Ost‐Asien. (Yang‐tse‐kiang und Gelbes Meer) 1890–91. Verfasst im Auftrage des k. undk. Reichs‐Kriegsministeriuins Marine‐Section, unter Zugrundelegung der Berichte des k. und k. Schiffs‐commandos, und ergänzt nach Consularberichten und anderen authentischen Quellen. Von Jerolim, Freiherrn von Benko, k. und k. Fregatten‐Capitän d. R. Mit einer Keiseskizze und acht lithographirten Tafeln. Wien : Carl Gerold's Sohn, 1894. Pp. xi + 439.

Andalusien. Eine Winterreise durch Südspanien und ein Ausflug nach Tanger. Von Ernst von Hesse‐Wartegg. Leipzig : Verlag von Carl Eeissner, 1894. Pp. viii + 443.

Some Salient Points in the Science of the Earth. By Sir J. William Dawson, C.M.G., LL.D., etc. With Forty‐six Illustrations. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1893. Pp. x + 499. Price 7s. 6d.

Life of General Sir Hope Grant, with Selections from his Correspondence. Edited by Henry Knollys, Colonel (H.P.) Royal Artillery, his former A.D.C. William Blackwood and Sons, 1894. Two volumes, pp. 359 and 362, with Index and Illustrations.

Rulers of India: Sir Thomas Munro and the British Settlement of the Madras Presidency. By John Bradsiiaw, M.A., LL.D., Inspector of Schools, Madras. Oxford : At the Clarendon Press, 1894. Pp. 233. Price 2s. 6d.

Japan ("The Story of the Nations” Series). By David Murray, Ph.D., LL.D. London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1894. Pp. v + 420. Price 5s.

Elementary Meteorology. By William Morris Davis, Professor of Physical Geography in Harvard College. Boston, U.S.A.: Ginn and Company, 1894. Pp. xii + 355. Price 10s. 6d.

Land Systems of Australasia. By William Epps, author of The People and the Land. London: Swan Sonnenschein and Co.; New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1894. Pp. 184.

Special Report on the Agricultural Resources of Canada. By Robert Wallace, F.L.S., F.E.S.B.

Scotch Tenant‐Farmers on the Agricultural Resources of Canada. The Eeports of Mr. John Steven and Mr. Alexander Fraser on their visit to Canada in 1893.

Canadian Agriculture. A Report of a Visit to the Dominion in 1893. By Professor James Long. London: 1894.

Le Père Huc et ses Critiques. Par Henri‐Ph. d'Orléans. Paris: Calman Lévy, 1893. Pp. 65.

Anson's Voyage round the World in the Years 1740, 1741, 1742, 1743, 1744. By Richard Walker, M.A., Chaplain of the Flag‐ship Centurion. London, Glasgow, and Dublin : Blackie and Son, Limited, 1894. Pp. 220. Price 1s. 4d.

The County Directory of Scotland (for 1893–1896), containing the Postal Addresses of Mansions and other Rural Residences in Scotland; their Occupants; nearest Telegraph Office and Distance;—also, the Postal and Telegraph Addresses of all Towns, Villages, etc. ; and various Information appertaining thereto. Postally edited by George Massie, General Post Office, Edinburgh. Proprietor and General Editor, Arthur Giles, F.R.S.G.S. Edinburgh : K. Grant and Son, 1894. Pp. xxx+ 1048.