In the book, which I hope will soon be reviewed on PNG Attitude, I deal with the country’s big five colonial challenges:- cargo cults; sorcery; first contact patrols; endemic cannibalism; and Highlands tribal fights with up to 1,000 participants a side.

In 1969 I took American journalist Lowell Thomas’s film crew expedition on a first contact patrol.

In 1970, the subsequent documentary was reportedly watched by 20 million American television viewers on NBC.

Four enormous bags of fan mail arrived from the US as a result, and the Australian ambassador in Washington sent his congratulations: “This is exactly the image we wish to project for our work in New Guinea.”

Danadu (Rob Barclay)

I married after 12 years in PNG and my then wife, Sandra, has written two of the book’s chapters. The first tells of our 35-day initial census patrol of the Biami cannibals, where she was the first white woman to be seen by 2,000 people.

In the second chapter, she describes an attack on Gumine station by Highlands tribal fighters. In both chapters she details what it was like to live on remote stations for up to two years at a time.

Over 30 of my patrols were longer than a month, the two major first contact patrols the longest - 74 and 80 days each.

Both were carried out in previously unexplored rainforest regions. I spent over 2,600 days on patrol, more than seven years in total.

Alone in the wilderness with only my native police and interpreters, I had to come up with solutions of my own making. It was a survival of the fittest, ‘do it yourself’ life.

In the book there are 115 original unpublished images, my own work, most in colour.

They include 30 acrylic paintings of interesting and crisis moments I have done from memory.

Most of the photos have been contributed by fellow field officers. In addition, there are 11 detailed Conti chalk drawings – most done on patrol - and seven full-colour scaled maps with coordinates, showing the routes the patrols followed.

Delores (Rob Barclay)

After eight years of preparation, and over 20 global publishing knock-backs, I decided to self-publish.

It is a 22 chapter, 282 page, A4-sized book, so the maps can be easily studied.

It is produced in hard and soft cover, and I asked for thicker satin text paper to enhance the images.

I spared no cost including in the small one-off print run of a permanent hard-cover bound collector’s edition.

Printer’s costs for the book are soft-cover $55 and hard-cover $150. Add $18 postage (express $22).

If you wish to buy email me a note here or wait for the review before making up your mind to buy what is a very special publication.