"By Aeroplane to Pygmyland" Accounts of the 1926 Smithsonian-Dutch Expedition to New Guinea

Interpretive Essays
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Expedition Photograph and Film Collection

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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A057
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Nebaya
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 ...they showed no objections to being photographed and would hold a pose with considerable patience. (May 24)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A058
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Nebaya; "The Jew". The clown of the Takutamesa tribe
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A059
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Same individual as in A068
C2:
 Komaha, a Papuan of Bisano
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A060
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Kanagua (similar to A062, A069)
C2:
 N/A
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A061
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 A Papuan of Bisano (K)
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A062
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Kanagua? / Base Camp; Masuka, Papuan of Bisano
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 ...I hiked into the jungle with old Kanagua as guide… (May 31)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A063
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Papuans of Bisano surround le Roux (standing in the center in striped outfit)
C2:
 N/A
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A068
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Same individual as in A059
C2:
 Komaha
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 Here Komaha, the Papuan with us, got the thrill of his life… (June 12)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A069
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Kanagua?; base camp; Ma su' ka, Papuan of Bisano
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A071
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Same as Arb043
C2:
 Papuan group from village near Bisano[Kawaraivet?]
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A072
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 K?
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A073
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 K?
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 A074
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 from near Bisano. Kawaraivet?
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 Arb043
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Same as A071
C2:
 Papuans near base camp; Papuans
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 War Bkgd. #9, plate 20, In the Van Rees Mountains, Netherlands New Guinea; a: Papuan men from the Mamberamo River, showing admixture of Melanesian and Papuan types
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 The young men here are great dandies...The older men wear practically no adornment. (June 1)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 Arb044
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 N/A
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 War Bkgd. #9, plate 21, c: Men from the Van Rees Mountains, Netherlands New Guinea; Typical ornaments, weapons, and body armor made from braided palm fiber
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 Arb181n
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 N/A
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 Arb323
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Four women and a small girl at Bisano. Left to right: Na gua, Que da wa, Ik a wa, O ba ta cha, O bre ja
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 Arb326
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Two Papuans of Bisano, on the Mamberamo
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 Arb327
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Women & girls of Bisano
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 Arb328
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Four ladies and two small girls of Bisano having their first picture taken. Van Rees Mts. Notice the white stripes painted on the shoulders and breasts. na gua, Que da wa, Ik a wa, O ba ta cha, O bre ja
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 Arb329
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Papuan boys at Bisano. Van Rees Mts.
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 Arb337
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 A dog stands just inside the ghost house in the background
C2:
 Men by the ghost house, Bisano; no. 3 Peguwa, No. 6 Poka
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 Oh yes, I forgot. Female dogs are permitted in the ghost house. (May 30)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 B031
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 B035
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 N/A
C3:
 Takutamesa Papuans from the Van Rees Mountains on the Mamberamo near the base camp of the expedition.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 ...we too finally saw a canoe containing nine men... (May 17)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 B036
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 The ghost house at Bisano, Van Rees Mts.
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 War Bkgd. #9, plate 20, In the Van Rees Mountains, Netherlands New Guinea; c: men's clubhouse
C5:
 451070 – THE MOST EXCLUSIVE CLUB IN TOWN. – "The Ghost House" at Bisano, which is used only by the men of the tribe, women never [missing text] allowed to enter it.
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 This evening le Roux, Sally and I again visited the ghost house… (May 29)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W037
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Same man as in W043
C2:
 Bisano; Takutamesa; Van Rees Mts.; Man-profile
C3:
 A Papuan man of Bisano showing the typical coiled headdress, nose ornament, abdominal armor and the curious tail-like appendage made from Pandanus leaves without which the men’s costume would be considered incomplete. It was with considerable reluctance that any of these men could be persuaded to remove this Pandanus tail and acted very embarrassed when they did so.
C4:
 War Bkgd. #9, plate 21, b: Men from the Van Rees Mountains, Netherlands New Guinea; Typical ornaments, weapons, and body armor made from braided palm fiber.
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W038
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; Takutamesa; man with knife. Cf. mode of fastening loin-cloth with Sebiri
C3:
 A Papuan of Bisano standing by the men’s house. In the background may be seen the notched stick ladder by means of which the house is entered.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W040
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; Takutamesa; Man and boy
C3:
 A young man and an adult from Bisano. The man is wearing a typical mass of braided palm fiber about the abdomen which serves to double for armor and an ornament. In his nose he wears the horizontal bone or wooden nosepiece and also the hairpin shaped ornament of cassowary bone which is thrust upwards through two holes in the upper part of the nostrils.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W043
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Same man as in W037
C2:
 Takutamesa; Man-costume and weapons
C3:
 A man of Bisano standing on the bank of the Mamberamo. In his left hand he holds his bow and arrows. He wears the typical costume and ornaments of the Takutamesa men. None of these men would think of going anywhere without carrying their weapons as they are continually in fear of attack from neighboring Papuan tribes, particularly the Boromesa who live on the opposite bank of the river from them and who are their traditional enemies.
C4:
 War Bkgd. #9, plate 21, a: Men from the Van Rees Mountains, Netherlands New Guinea; Typical ornaments, weapons, and body armor made from braided palm fiber.
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W044
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Esua; Takutamesa; Van Rees Mts
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W045
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano, Van Rees Mts.; Takutamesa; Man-detail of headdress. Necklace; Van Rees Mts
C3:
 Papuan man of Bisano showing the typical hairpin shaped cassowary boned nose ornament, forehead band of trade beads and fillet of cowrie shells.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W046
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; Takutamesa; Van Rees Mts
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W047
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Same man as in W070
C2:
 Takutamesa; Man. Detail of loin-cloth, etc.; Papuan at base camp / Mamberamo R.
C3:
 Papuan man from Bisano on the bank of the Mamberamo holding his weapons showing the structure of the palmwood bow with rattan strings. A spare string is carried along the back of the bow which is ready for use in case the other is broken. The arrows here shown are mostly of the barbed variety used for fighting purposes.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W048
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Takutamesa; man holding branch?; A man of Bisano. Tobacco box in ear & comb used as eating fork in his hair. quor a da. Papuan at Batavia Camp.
C3:
 A man of Bisano. In his hair he wears a small wooden comb which is used for eating purposes and is simply kept in the hair for convenience. From his forehead is a fillet of cowry shells. In his ear a bamboo tobacco box is carried through the pierced and distended ear lobe.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W049
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Takutamesa; Pygmoid-looking man & boy; Van Rees Mts.
C3:
 Papuan man and boy. On his left arm the man is wearing an armband under which are tucked a large number of small lizards which he has gathered for his evening meal. These lizards are eaten raw by dipping them in a little warm crocodile fat and swallowing them entire.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W051
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; Takutamesa
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W054
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; house
C3:
 Family house. Two family houses and the men’s house at the village of Bisano in the Van Rees Mountains. The floor of the men’s house is elevated about 7’ above the ground level. The space under the floor is generally used as a lounging area during the heat of the day. Women are not allowed to enter this structure and do not approach it closely. However, small boys of any age are permitted to go in and out freely. Each morning at sunrise and each evening at sunset the men congregate and for a ten minute period make music with bamboo pipes which are cut after the fashion of organ pipes.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 There are nine houses in all in the village. (May 28)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W057
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Same as W055
C2:
 Bisano; group
C3:
 A group of men under the men’s house watching the approach of our party under the guidance of a member of their own tribe. They are still somewhat suspicious. The Kawerawet subsist principally upon sago and might be said to practice agriculture to a very limited degree, in so much as they grow a few banana and papaya trees and some sweet potatoes in the immediate vicinity of their village. This constitutes a very unimportant portion of their food supply, however. Their principal game consists of kangaroos, wild boars, cassowaries, and birds of many sorts.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 This is the men's house and women are not permitted to enter it. (May 27)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W070
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 Same man as in W047
C2:
 Bisano; Takutamesa; Papuan man lower Mamberamo River, Dutch New Guinea; man--costume and weapons
C3:
 Papuan man of Bisano. He is wearing a loin cloth made of cotton cloth in place of the usual bark cloth one. This apron was obtained by the expedition by trade.
C4:
 War Bkgd. #9, plate 21, d: Men from the Van Rees Mountains, Netherlands New Guinea; Typical ornaments, weapons, and body armor made from braided palm fiber.
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W071
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; boy
C3:
 A small boy of Bisano in front of a family house. This picture shows the method of preparing palm thatch for roof making. The eaves of the roof in the family houses very nearly reach to the ground. Within the house, sleeping platforms are erected although the floor of the house proper is the natural surface of the ground.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W072
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; Takutamesa
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W073
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; A belle of Bisano; shell necklace, bark apron. Ek a wa' the daughter of Ka na' gua
C3:
 A young Kawerawet girl from the village of Bisano.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W074
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; women of Bisano; costume
C3:
 Kawerawet women standing in front of a family house. The women and children live in houses of this type in which the male head of the household also resides when he sees fit. Married men usually eat their meals in the family house where they are cooked by their wives. Bachelors as a rule cook their own meals under or near the men’s house. Unmarried men sleep in the men’s house.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 The costume of the women is very simple. A cord around the waist supports a small bark apron in front and a somewhat larger one behind. (May 28)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W075
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano, Papuan; woman in front of a bark house, Bisano
C3:
 N/A
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W076
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Bisano; women & girls of Bisano, interrupted at their sago making to have a picture taken; Papuan women
C3:
 A group of women from the village of Bisano gathering sago. The decorations on the arms and shoulders are made with sago flour. Typical women’s costumes are shown – bark aprons, nose and ear ornaments, shell and seed necklaces, etc.
C4:
 War Bkgd. #9, plate 20, In the Van Rees Mountains, Netherlands New Guinea; b: women and girls wearing bark loin clothes
C5:
 N/A
Quote from Stirling Journal:
 Although they had never seen a camera before, they would strike a coquettish attitude that would do credit to a professional Follies actress. (May 31)


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Location Subject:
 Papuans of Bisano
Filename:
 W111
Captions [about captions]
C1:
 N/A
C2:
 Takutamesa; canoe with crew
C3:
 A canoe load of Papuan men from Bisano. As far as could be determined, this canoe is the only one that the men of Bisano own. When not in actual use it was kept concealed in the jungle a short distance from the river at the mouth of the small stream on which the village of Bisano is located.
C4:
 N/A
C5:
 N/A
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Search photograph captions:

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