3 The New York Years (1931–1953)

74 2 The Budding Scientist
to publish a statement that his book of 1920 was meant to be literature rather than
a scientific report (see Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Erdkunde in Berlin, 1932,
pp. 307–308) and to resign as a member of the Society in order not to be expelled.
The reputation of the Geographical Society of Berlin was restored.
Even after 1930 and into the 1960s Detzner’s name and his “achievements”
have been cited approvingly by several authors. Finally Biskup (1968) discussed in
detail the contents of Detzner’s book and challenged several aspects of his account
growing suspicious about certain details, when he read Keysser’s autobiography
(1929). In an appendix to his article Biskup (1968, p. 21) cited a translation of
“Detzner’s statement” in Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Erdkunde in Berlin and the
note indicating his resignation from this Society but, of course, he knew nothing
about the background to Detzner’s statement and how his resignation had come
about.
(4) Herzog Mountains (Fig. 2.10)
Itinerary:
28 April 1929 en route from Finschhafen to Salamaua
29 April–6 May 1929 at Malolo (mission station near Salamaua) preparing for
inland trip to Herzog Mountains
7–10 May 1929 en route from Malolo to Dawong, Snake River
11 May–2 June 1929 at Dawong, collecting
3–4 June 1929 en route from Dawong to Malolo and Salamaua
In Finschhafen, Mayr boarded a steamer for Salamaua on 28 April alone, without
his Malay mantris for Europeans only were allowed to travel during the current
mumps quarantine. Just before leaving, he had received his mail and learned more
about the American suggestion to join the Whitney Expedition instead of returning
to Manokwari. This sounded like an interesting project to him.
En route to Salamaua across the Huon Gulf he had a beautiful view of the
Rawlinson Mountains to the north, the deep cut of the Markham Valley to the west
and the heights of the Herzog and Kuper Mountains. Next day he met missionary
Bayer in Salamaua and together they went to the mission station Malolo (Fig. 2.10).
Several days were spent preparing for the trip north to the Buang River at the shore
of the Huon Gulf. Here, through arrangements made by Mr. Bayer, Kademoi people
from the Snake River Valley would meet him and carry his baggage west into the
Herzog Mountains to the village of Dawong.
The expedition left Malolo on 7 May and met the Dawong carriers on the
following day. They had been hindered by rains and a swollen river. Crossing
the low mountain range on the 9th Mayr and his porters arrived in the Kademoi
(Snake River) Valley and Dawong on 10 May. His Malay mantris were not able to
catch up with him until 23 May. From then on, hunting and skinning improved
alotcomparedtothepreviousweek,whenMayrhadtoemploylocalboys.On29
May, a telegram arrived which read: “Are you willing to join Whitney Expedition?