This is the extraordinary story of the world's last major exploration and probably the last experience of 'first contact' - a journey of three thousand kilometres by foot, during 1938-39, through the mountainous western highlands of Papua New Guinea. The pale skin of the explorers suggested that they were spirits - sky people. How should they be treated? Local people repeatedly asked 'Why have you come?'
Jim Taylor, with John Black and Pat Walsh, led a patrol of over 350 people. Most of the group were carriers from Highlands areas already familiar with Europeans; about forty were New Guinea police from the coast. With war looming, records of their remarkable experience were officially suppressed.
