Paddle from Papua New Guinea

The paper label reads “Dead warrior’s paddle always buries with him to enable him to cross the waters of Styx. New Caledonia”. (In this context ‘Styx’ refers to the Greek mythological equivalent of a river that forms the boundary between Earth and the Underworld.)

Though written in the Explorer Paget-Blake’s own hand, it is in fact wrong and has been subsequently crossed out. New Caledonia is about 1,800 miles away from Papua New Guinea. 

The paddle is about 150 years old and was originally from Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea.

http://www.torquaymuseum.org/explore/explore-our-collections/world-cultures

Bougainville Island is the easternmost island of Papua New Guinea, in the Solomon Sea, Southwestern Pacific. With Buka Island and several island groups, it forms the autonomous region of Bougainville. Geographically, Bougainville is the largest of the Solomon Islands, located near the northern end of that chain.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Bougainville-Island

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