When Leopold Pospíšil first arrived in New Guinea in 1954 to investigate the legal systems of the local tribes, he was warned about the Kapauku who reputedly had no laws. Dubious that any society could exist without laws, Pospíšil immediately decided to live among and study the Kapauku. Learning the language and living as a participant-observer among the Kapauku, Pospíšil discovers that the supposedly primitive society possesses laws, rules, and social structures that are as sophisticated as they are logical. Having survived the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and fled the Communist regime, Pospíšil has little patience for the notion that so-called advanced civilizations are superior to the ‘stone age’ society in which he now lives. On the basis of his research and experiences among the Kapauku – he would stay with them five times between 1954 and 1979 – Pospíšil pioneered in the field of legal anthropology, holding a professorship at Yale, serving as the anthropology curator of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, and publishing three books of scholarship on the Kapauku law. As Jaroslav Jiřík and Martin Soukup write in their afterword, however, “His three previously published works are about the Kapauku; this one is about the anthropologist among the Kapauku.” The memoir is filled with charming anecdotes and thrilling stories of trials, travels, and war – told with humor and humility—and accompanied by a wealth of the author’s personal photos from the time.

Reproduction of the original: Bunyip Land by George Manville Fenn

Journey to the Stone Age In one of the last untamed places on Earth, Indonesian New Guinea’s snowcapped peaks tower above steaming rainforests and huge crocodiles stalk in thick mangroves ringing the island. Whether you lounge on the white beaches of Biak, or trek around Wamena, Indonesian New Guinea offers the adventure of a lifetime. The ultimate adventure guide This is the most complete guide to Indonesian New Guinea ever produced. Hundreds of pages of travel tips and dozens of lively articles cover every aspect of the island’s history and geography, taking you to lots of rarely- visited places. The nitty-gritty, from A to Z Detailed maps of every town and region of Indonesian New Guinea are included, along with personal recommendations from our expert authors on how to get around, where to stay and eat, and how to get the best value for money.