I should like to express my gratitude to the expedition members, not only for the assistance acknowledged in the Preface, but for permission to use the excellent photographs included in this book.
I am also indebted to Mr. Hobart Van Deusen and Dr. Thomas Gilliard of the American Museum of Natural History, who prepared me for the fauna of New Guinea’s Central Highlands, and to Miss Lily Perry of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard, who instructed me in the fundamentals of its flora: Mr. Chris Versteegh, the botanist of the Dutch Government who joined the expedition for a brief period, made an invaluable contribution in the field.
In Hollandia, in addition to Dr. J. V. de Bruyn, Miss Lou Von Zanden of the Office of Native Affairs was very courteous and helpful, and Mr. J. R. Schroo of Hollandia’s Bureau of Soils was kind enough to furnish information on the geology and soils of the Baliem Valley.
For many forms of hospitality and kindness received in my journeys to and from New Guinea, I remain indebted to the following: Luisa and Domenico Gnoli (Rome); El Amin Sulfab (Juba, Sudan); Hamdan Mohamed (Nimule, Sudan); Miss Ulla Mai Ekblad (Nairobi, Kenya); Patrick and Hennie Hemingway (Arusha, Tanganyika); Ruth Jhabvala (Delhi); Mr. and Mrs. Clair Weeks (Kathmandu, Nepal); Mme. Françoise Teynac (Angkor Wat, Cambodia–Hong Kong); George Chi (Hong Kong); Jorge Borges (Macao); Mrs. Jean Austin (Heron Island, Australia); Misses Carol and Gay Plowman (Sydney); Joy and Kenneth Plowman (Sydney); Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Warne (Sydney); Betty and George Edwards (Newcastle, Australia); John Haereraaroa (Moorea, French Oceania); Patsy and Mike Goldberg (Belvedere, California); Evan Connell and Max Steele (San Francisco).
For expert advice, and for unstinting interest and patience, I should like to thank my friend and editor, Marshall Best, and the excellent staff at the Viking Press, in the hope that this book will justify their effort.