"It is 1959 and an enquiry is being held on the island of Kailuana in the Territory of Papua. The Assistant District Officer has arrived to preside, accompanied by young Dalwood and the Government Interpreter. Mr MacDonnell has been the only white man on the island for many years and is a familiar figure to the natives who work in his crumbling house or support possible candidates to succeed Dipapa, the tribal chief. The Australian administrators who pay infrequent are as strange to them as are the visitants from the stars who people a new space-age version of one of their myths." -- from inside cover.