The island of New Guinea is the second largest island in the world. It is divided between the independant country of Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya. Irian Jaya may be a little wilder than Papua New Guinea, but according to National Geographic, There are many uncontacted peoples in both parts. It is amazing that in this day and age that their are still new tribes being discovered.
Papua New Guinea
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Irian Jaya
Vahudate & Aukedate. Reuters News Service reports that in 1998 these two new tribes were discovered in the highlands near the Mamberamo River. The Vahudate are thought to number around twenty families and the Aukedate number around thirty-three families. The remarkable thing about both these tribes, other than their isolation, is that they communicate primarily through sign language. As nobody yet knows how to communicate with them, very little is known about them. One theory is that they developed sign language in the past as away to stay silent and hidden from neighboring aggressive tribes. Already missionaries are asking for volunteers to go and convert them.
Kombai (Kombay). The Kombai were "discovered" in the seventies and there have been missionaries living with some of them, but they remain one of tribes least influenced by the modern world. There are wide spread reports of uncontacted clans. They are remarkable has one of Irian's tree house dwellilng tribes.
Korowai (Koroway). Neighbors of the Kombai, the Korowai also are a tree house dwelling tribe. They also remain largely untouched by the outside world.
Others. National Geographic reports that in 1987 two previously unknown tribes emerged from the jungle. One of the tribes promptly disappeared back into the jungle and has not been heard of since. I have been unable to obtain information regarding the other tribe. Indeed the lack of information on both tribes is frustrating.
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Last Modified August 16, 1999