Abstract
MAFULU is the Kurd (Melanesian) pronunciation of Mambule, the name of a group of Papuan-speaking mountaineers who occupy the crests dominating the head waters of the St. Joseph River. Although the boundaries of their territory cannot be regarded as accurately ascertained, a glance at the map shows that it extends within a short distance of the watershed of the main range, and it is likely that no substantially different people intervene between them and the tribes occupying the sources of the Aikora and other northward flowing streams. This probability is borne out by the results of Mr. Monckton's expedition to Mount Albert Edward by way of the valley of the Upper Chirima, one of the affluents of the Mamba River on the northern slopes of the main range, for, as Mr. Williamson points out, there are many similarities between the implements of the Kambisa villagers described by Mr. Monckton and those made and used by the Mafulu, while their languages are the same, or at least closely related. In any case Mr. Williamson is to be congratulated on having produced the furthest inland account yet published of any Papuasian people, and all students of the Pacific will be grateful to him for this.
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S., C. The Pygmies of New Guinea 1 . Nature 89, 556–558 (1912). https://doi.org/10.1038/089556a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/089556a0