The great-great-grandson of Miklukho-Maklay visited the Papuan tribe, which his ancestor explored 150 years ago

On September 20, 1871, the ship "Vityaz" anchored 140 meters off the coast of New Guinea. It was the Russian researcher, ethnographer, anthropologist and biologist Nikolai Miklukho-Maklay, who studied the indigenous population of Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania. After a not very successful first meeting with the aborigines (they were allowed on board, but they were afraid of the artillery salute in honor of the arrival), Miklukho-Maklay, refusing protection, accompanied by two servants landed on the shore.

In those days, it was like signing a death sentence for yourself: the local Papuan tribes were considered cannibals and bounty hunters. A week after the landing, the Vityaz left the bay, leaving the Russian explorer on the island.

Miklukho-Maklay was luckier than Cook. Although the natives were wary of the newcomer and were disturbed by his visits to the village, however, there were those whose curiosity overcame fear, and they came to his hut. The researcher himself, like his servants, did not show aggression, like many white people and colonialists.

Soon they got used to him, and after the amazing rescue of a local resident (a tree fell on him, the wound on his head festered, and Miklukho-Maklay cured him), the authority of the scientist was so strengthened that he was no longer considered an evil spirit and was invited to the village. The researcher was allowed to see women and children, study everyday life and culture.

In total, Miklukho-Maklay lived in a wild Papuan tribe for three years — one year on the first trip, two years on the second. He managed to collect really unique material for that time. He showed that unknown tribes should not be perceived only as savages and cannibals, that they also have their own laws, customs and traditions.

After traveling to New Guinea, Miklukho-Maklay wrote in his work that he realized that there is no superior race in the world and all races are equal. And that it is the duty of every more developed society to help the less developed protect their freedom and self—determination.

On September 15, 2017, almost 150 years later, Miklukho-Maklay, 44—year-old Nikolai, namesake and great-great-grandson of the famous explorer, set foot on the same coast of New Guinea again. Nikolai Miklukho-Maklay Jr. arrived on the shore, once known as the Maklay Coast, to honor the memory of his grandfather and see with his own eyes the world that the researcher knew almost two centuries ago.

The locals greeted him with great honors.

The natives of the three villages greeted Nicholas in bright national clothes. And the locals took the sudden rain as a good sign: "Maklay has returned and brought with him the long—awaited rain," they said with respect.

A tribal warrior and the ancestor of Miklukho-Maklay are playing a scene, as they met a Russian researcher 150 years ago.

In an interview with journalists, Miklukho-Maklay Jr. said: "I have made two important discoveries. I really realized that my ancestor was a great man only after an independent trip to these lands, when I saw the attitude of these people to his person. And the second thing — I saw how friendly and sincere these people were to someone who came to them without falsehood and with an open soul. New Guinea will always remain in my heart."

Nikolay Miklukho-Maklay Jr. is the head of the Foundation for the Preservation of Ethnocultural Heritage named after him. Miklukho is a Maklaya and is engaged in ethnographic research.