Papua New Guinea – 1967. From hair-raising experiments with stump-blasting to being caught in the arrow-fire of a tribal battle, Ross has a tug-of-war with a reef shark over his dinner catch, witnesses (& photographs) a young men’s initiation ritual that few non-natives have ever seen, visits cannibals and head-hunters in their isolated villages, gets caught in storms at sea in an open boat, climbs to ancient rock-paintings and burial caves, experiences the mysterious power of native superstition, races against time to get death adder victims to hospital, gets arrested in PNG’s Eastern Highlands for photographing a chain gang at work, goes crocodile hunting with a barking dog for bait, seeks out the isolated tribe dying from kuru the (the laughing death), encounters fascinating customs among isolated tribes, and collects the artefacts that formed the backbone of the National Museum of New Zealand’s PNG collection at that time.

The book includes some 60 rare photographs from Ross's vast collection which richly illustrate the narrative.

REVIEWS:

A fascinating insight into primitive life in the jungles of Papua New Guinea as encountered in the 1960’s by an adventurous young New Zealander. His experiences, many of which are hair raising, are recounted in a matter of fact style that invites the reader to hasten on to see what happens in the next chapter. A very good read with appeal to all ages ensuring that his next three books soon to be published will be eagerly awaited. Ernest Watson, Kerikeri

An easy read about the amazing adventures of a young New Zealand Forester in the Papua New Guinea jungle. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories about Ross' many adventures and the descriptions of the primitive lives lead by the native people. Once I started reading. I found that it was a book that was hard to put down. The easy narrative used by Ross makes it suitable for all ages. I can't wait for his next publication. Alan Morton, Kawerau