Ngowang And The Europe Colony Lae Wampar . Article series. (ARTICLE 1)

NGOWANG
AND THE
EUROPE COLONY
LAE - WAMPAR

 A chief Wampar headdress ( For an original photo refer to the link https://www.britishmuseum.org/join_in/using_digital_images/using_digital_images.aspx?asset_id=1552166001&objectId=501415&partId=1

Introduction
Beginning this month we will focus on the life and history of a well known warrior called Ngowang. , Titled “ Ngowang And The Europe Colony Lae - Wampar ” this article series contains informative historical facts of a valorous head-hunter whose mastery of the so-called Laewomba tribes took Lae, Markham and the surrounding places by storm before clashing the Europeans in an event that turned the tides of the battle of Laewomba into a stream of companionship and fellow feeling in the dying years of 1900s . The name Laewomba was used by the early German officials to describe the Wampar people living in the lower Markham valley where Wampar language was spoken .
Since the name Laewomba is seldom used today , in this writing we will be using Wampar or Lae - Wampar instead of Laewomba. You will read about how the remnants of the Munum people of Wampar met the Europeans for the first time. How they react when in contact with foreigners. Broaden your understanding on how Ngowang gained as war trophy a teen lass from Hengali in the Ahi tribe of Lae. Find out what happened to the chieftainship of Ngowang Esab in Modern Wampar. Thrilling as it might be , the tale can be summarised as - ‘ history in the making’. To add taste , poetic writings were included in parts and pages that harmonised with the theme.
Authored by Jonathan E Banta the great grandson of headman Ngowang Gamun. 


Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following people for their kind contributions .

Text Editor - Victoria Karo (Vicky) . Assistant Editor - Ruth Y. Banta .
1. Oral History Sources Credited to. - late Wangkeng Nimoren, Waneng Asa (Maius esab), Wau Ezekiel . Retold by Etep and Itu Banta with some pieces from Gabmana Kinasa.
2. This work  is dedicated to the following people.
- my Mother Itu & my Dad Etep .
- Aunty Susan Mellie (Nimoren) Educator.
- Mr. Alakam ( Educator)
- Mr. & Mrs Ipu.(Educators)
- Miss. Taigiamo Solomon (Educator)
- Mrs. T. Sarviman. (Educator)
- My siblings Judy, Naeman, Apin, Ade, Martha
- My mother's clansmen Moswarang
- My Cousins
- And lastly My talkative clansmen of Owang Wasobampur.
Special thanks to Steven Anso , Wazob Naeman and Gabmana Kinasa Family for the photo inclusion.

What prompted the Laewomba battle? In which direction did they came and went ? Why did Professor Neuhauss arrive from Berlin , Germany to Lae in 1909 ? Read on to find out..
All images subject to
Copyright © 2020 Jonathan E Banta. All rights reserved.

From Coast to Coast and Between

Did they really came from Kerema in the Papuan coast ? We'll, I would like to invite you to travel with me back in time for a special interview with one of their elderly chief to see if he can provide us with some logical information. Let us Kick-start with the people as a whole.
The first parents of the Wampar people arrived on voyagers spar from across the ocean , perhaps an Asiatic drift . By legend, they are known as the lost tribe of Kerema after landing in the Gulf coast.
As time passed they pursued the Taori river upstream to tackle the rugged Stanley before entering Morobe Province through Menyamya and found Wafe suitable to settle. Archaeologically the Wampar pottery found today around Wafi proves their settlement here. And to be on the linguist side, the Wampar word Wafe,( pronounced as 'wah’ 'fur’) refers to the common bush crab that spends most of it's time digging and tunnelling watery soils . Isn't it interesting to learn that the Wafi Mine engineers are planning to use the tunnelling system instead of an open cut mine? Ultimately Wafe the crab can show them how to tunnel safe.! (The non Wampars mispronounced Wafe as Wafi, 'wah’ 'fee’).
After the Wafe settlement , they immigrated downstream in divisions. Some towards the Upper Markham that is now Atzera in Kaiapit, while others continued to the lower Markham. And to cut a long story short, the tribes that came with Ngowang settled in Gabantsitz (now Gabensis) meaning the land of cliffs before travelling to Munum via lake Wanam (Wanum) . Their having being in possession of the deep sea seashell necklaces and conchs proves their coastal origin , even though they are known by the Ahis as the inland tribe. Up in the hills hunting and gathering was a norm as well as gardening. Their booby traps known as Mazo was an essential bandicoot slapper. The father would set it up during the day with ripe fruits to attract the prey by night , and inspect it by dawn to collect the slapped mammal . After grilling over open fire to remove it's hairy furs the bandicoot can be roasted and served with bananas as a delightful breakfast for the family. It's no more than a livelihood centered in modesty.

Picture yourself entering that simple bush community consisting of half naked people , all staring at you with frightened children gripping mama's soft defensive hands . As we enter, our guide , a bilingual , introduces us to the man of the house , he seems perplexed by our appearance , especially the camera and our boots since he and his family may have had previously eaten an explorer's boot mistakenly.
But our guide reassures him that all is well. And what would we expect to hear from this mighty chief ? A chronological history of a timeless adventure that brought out the best in the valley of Izumrain in the yesteryears and today. It is a story of hate and love , of friendship and sorrow, of war and peace and how reconciliation was prolonged until after World War 1. Let's investigate .
( to be continued ) 

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