Accessibility Tools

Among the crocodiles

Through a Melanesian lens
by
June 2025, no. 476

Melanesia: Travels in Black Oceania by Hamish McDonald

Black Inc., $36.99 pb, 330 pp

Buy this book

ABR receives a commission on items purchased through this link. All ABR reviews are fully independent.

Among the crocodiles

Through a Melanesian lens
by
June 2025, no. 476

A few years ago, I spent a week in the village of Salamaua on the Huon Gulf coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG). I delighted in swimming in the warm tropical waters that lap the village. After a dip or two, I wondered if there might be crocodiles about. My hosts told me that there was a resident crocodile; sometimes it came through the village at night, but I need not worry. In generations past, Salamauans and crocodiles had come to an agreement not to hurt each other, and since then the people of the village and their guests had been perfectly safe. I kept swimming.

Melanesia: Travels in Black Oceania

Melanesia: Travels in Black Oceania

by Hamish McDonald

Black Inc., $36.99 pb, 330 pp

Buy this book

ABR receives a commission on items purchased through this link. All ABR reviews are fully independent.

From the New Issue

Leave a comment

If you are an ABR subscriber, you will need to sign in to post a comment.

If you have forgotten your sign in details, or if you receive an error message when trying to submit your comment, please email your comment (and the name of the article to which it relates) to ABR Comments. We will review your comment and, subject to approval, we will post it under your name.

Please note that all comments must be approved by ABR and comply with our Terms & Conditions.