Club member Charles Thrower presented an illustrated talk about his visit to Papua New Guinea at the meeting of 10th July. This provided an extremely interesting sketch of what remains an isolated and remote part of the world.

Becoming independent in 1975, it is the second largest island group in the world and, remarkably, the interior remains isolated with peoples not yet contacted. One of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, there are 852 known languages, of which 12 now have no known living speakers.

The country is one of the world's least explored, culturally and geographically. It is known to have numerous groups of uncontacted peoples, and researchers believe there are many undiscovered species of plants and animals in the interior.

Charles showed photographs of the island, the people, their arts, crafts and way of life - which remains traditional. He also touched on the historical practice of cannibalism and the influence of this in a disease known as ‘Kuru’. This word derives from the local word for ‘trembling’ and it is now widely accepted that kuru was transmitted among members of the Fore tribe via funerary cannibalism. Deceased family members were traditionally cooked and eaten, which was thought to help free the spirit of the dead. It is a disease of the brain, perhaps with similarities to BSE. Since these practices ended more than half a century ago the disease has almost completely disappeared.

Charles also touched on the effects of invasion and warfare during both WW1 and WW2 and economic development since. Although richly endowed with natural resources including mineral, forests and marine, development is hampered by the rugged terrain — including high mountain ranges and valleys, swamps and islands. Agriculture, for subsistence and cash crops, provides a livelihood for most of the population.