The Open Cage: The Ordeal of The Irian Jaya Hostages

by Daniel Start

While making a study of the flora and fauna of Irian Jaya in Papua New Guinea, four young British scientists were captured by the primitive tribespeople and held hostage for months. Spirited away within the "sacred" forest, forced to scavenge for food and live, in a way they had never dreamt of, like the native people, they were constantly under threat for their lives. Their eventual release was bittersweet.

Genres: Nonfiction

337 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 1997

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gripping true story. The ordeal becomes rather wearisome towards the end, but as a record of the tragic events of this expedition, it is excellent. A cautionary tale for naive expeditioners into remote and conflicted areas.

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harrowing true story of the author of 'Wild Swimming's' ordeal in New Guinea when captured by the OPG. Gripping and tragic and ends on a note of real horror and despair. The kidnapping happened just as i was planning a trip there myself. Had to wait 2 more years before the Indonesian government would allow travellers to enter again. And whereas Daniel encountered rebels, I stayed with real cannibals. But at least no-one saw the business end of a machete on my trip!

[John Collee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan Start and a group of university Botany students were captured by the free papua movement in the mountain forests of Iryan Jaya. They lived and trekked with their captors for months, pursued by Indonesian special forces in helicopter gunships. Gripping true life adventure. All ended badly as you would suspect, though Dan survived and now writes about swimming the wild rivers of europe.