Ornithology, Evolution, and Philosophy 123

60 2 The Budding Scientist
Fig.2.6. Ernst Mayr (right) and Sario, one of his Malay assistants, at Kofo, Anggi Gidji (Arfak
Mountains), former Dutch New Guinea, June 1928 (Photograph courtesy of E. Mayr.)
a much reduced number of porters, while the other two mantris and crew members
continued collecting around Ditchi. Actually, Mayr had intended to visit Lake Anggi
Gita (“Female Lake”) closer to Siwi (Fig. 2.5). But it was Basi, the local chief who
provided the porters and chose the route. Why did he prefer this one? As Mayr
later discovered, he wanted to get a bride for his son in which, however, he was
unsuccessful. At the time Mayr suspected there might be hostile villages in the area
or no trails. Sometimes at least he was in the hands of the natives and had to do
what they told him.
The march from Ditchi via Dohunsehik consisting of two houses was very
strenuous because several deeply incised valleys had to be crossed on slippery trails.
At 1,500 m began the moss forest which was here as luxuriant as on Mt. Mundi.
Lake Anggi Gidji is located at an elevation of 1,925 m. During the next 5 days,