Nuhou, Volume I, Number 12, 20 January 1874 — A Naturalist from Papua. [ARTICLE]

A Naturalist from Papua.

Or New eiuinea, is <>n a vieit to oar lalandB. Thc Signor Luigi M. ā ? Albertie, wlio arnycd Lere from Sjdney per aieamehip Macsresor t was sent out by the Italiad GoTermnent to explore the gretit leland of f*apua in eompanj wlth another naturalistj Signor Beeeari. This ltalian Natural Historj expe4ltion haa been epoken of with mueh interest in Australian journals; and we havc read viifch-great pleasure in the Sjducy Ma?! of May Blst, IST3, a very full and intereßt--smg account, aeeompanied >vith a aiap of the oband csploratione of Slgnor d* Aibcrtis. He has pcnetrated farther into that vaat terra meogiiHa, whieh is threc iiuiee larger thau the State of Oalii'omia, than hae ever becn done bj any white mau beforc him, Ile aseended peaks of the Arfkk range, Bome of whieh lue v\u 9000 leet high, lle eaptured soveral hitherto unknown species of the <f birds of jmradiBe," He made large additious to Qrmthologieal i\nd v.ucomo!ogieal knowlcdge, ĪTis assoeiate, Signor l>ec-

cari, collectcd over 1200 species of plants, morc ihan 1000 of wliieh are entirely new to botany. Signord f had very interesting encounters with thb proper 3 the frizzle headed negroes whose kmky hair gives the Malay name of Papua to the island. The Signor found no idols, and no c\idence of worship of any kind on the island. lle speaks well of the Papuans ; and his single hand|ed adventures. as he was a long timc alone, amo,ng this hitherto deemed ferocious people speaks highly for his personal courage, and his powers : of conciliation of a rude race of men. He calls them t£ happy savages,' ? who ai£ without ; iaws, armics, prisons, hospitals or ehurches, and who have not the slightest idea of hatingj persecuting, cutting, or giving the coldshouldcr to a l>rother Papuan on aceount of his difierence or of theology. Signor d' Albertis is in company w;ith a fel!ow traveler Major Sutherfurd of 11. B. Indian Army ~ oh a leave of absence.