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The second South New Guinea Expedition (1909-1910)

The primary goal of this expedition was reaching the Wilhelmina peak of the Snow Mountains. However, many botanical and zoological specimens were collected. The expedition members were H.A. Lorentz, J.W. van Nouhuys, L.I.A.M. von Römer, R. Jaarman and D. Habbema. The actual expedition started in the beginning of September 1909 by reaching Bivak Island with the "Arend", a large expedition vessel which was also used later in the Third South New Guinea Expedition (1912-1913). At 8 November 1909 they reached the highest point of the expedition in the snow at 4461 meters. The expedition was extremely difficult with "death staring in the face". Lorentz was almost killed by slipping off a steep rock wall, he broke a rib and had bad bruising. One Dayak carrier, who stayed with him on the snow, froze to death. Two more Dayaks died of exhaustion.

(left) Vessel the "Arend"; (right) Bivak Island, where all botanical and zoological specimens were collected for immediate transport to Europe

 

Several camps (bivak) were made (sequence of the voyage):

• Bivakschip De Arend -Camp ship "The Eagle"
• Bivak Camp (sea level)
• Alkmaar Camp
• Top Camp on the Hellwig Mountains (2,500 meters)
• Treub Camp (2,000 meters)
• Pesegem Camp in a Papua village
• Wilhelmina Camp on the slope of Wilhelmina peak (4023 meters)
• Rainy Island (sea level)

  

The camp at Rainy Island (Regen Eiland) flooded at 15-16 February 1910

Literature

Ballard, Ch., S. Vink & A. Ploeg, 2001. Race to the Snow. Photography and the exploration of Dutch New Guinea, 1907-1936: 96 pp. Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam.