Sunday
October 10
1926

It was as delightfully clear and nice this morning as it was misty and bad last nite. The atmosphere was clear and the mountains stuck out like a sore thumb. The view was excellent all around and we spent some time looking around thru the glasses. A Sunday atmosphere prevailed for the women sat in fron[t] of the houses making net bags and did not go into the fields. It may be because of the newcomers[;] I don[’]t know. Got a lot of new dope on inside intrigue. They have been cross examining the convicts, soldiers and dyaks after our trips, and enlarge on any little incidents that take place. Leroux is all rite. The schemers use him and his temperment on their side and Dick and his on ours to stir things up. We also learned that the Java cruiser incident, Cruiser took the blame for us 3 times to his commander and stuck up for us admirably. [sic] This made us feel good. We also learned it was Van Leeuwen who is responsible for the censorship order. During the morning one of the leaders from another village brought us a pig but for some unknown reason the deal wasn[’]t completed. The old chap here evidently called it off so we are without pork. He evidently is not pleased with the new turn of events. Some trading was done this morning but they offered poor material and wanted a high price for it which Matt naturally refused. Secret conferences were going on all morning and the old bird stuck to the house. The women also {F4.24} disappeared but I did not see them go into the fields as usual. They were busy working on new bags during the morning. Much new material, such as bows, arrows and necklaces are being made for trade. Several newcomers arrived and stood by looking on with mouth and eyes wide open. It is interesting to watch the newcomers. Leroux went up trail and shot a pan [panoramic photo] and is now down trail shooting another. After lunch Dick and I went up trail and shot a view of Papuans clearing a garden spot and building a fence. A group of a half dozen or more from a neighboring village arrived after lunch and had some good material which Matt secured. Old Phootewee got them off to one side and tried to induce them to hold out for high prices. Egoon greeted the new visitors with a warmth that was pleasant to see for he is not in love with the others. The new chief to visit us paraded up and down displaying all of his finery. He sent his men to trade their possessions first and was interested in the prices they received. Matt was kept busy all afternoon trading. The chief finally came up to trade but offered a few small things first. Instead of wearying [sic] his bog [sic] over his shoulder he had it advantageously perched on top of his head to display it well. When the afternoon was well spent he finally strutted up and[,] taking it off his head[,] laid it proudly in Matt[’]s lap. He had tried his best to have Matt ask for it but couldn’t wait it out. He received 3 good cowries for the bag and was well pleased with the deal. They were from Bigineila they said about a 2 days trip. They tried hard to get us to come and visit them offering a big pig as an inducement. It would be interesting to go but we cannot because of lack of carriers. They were nice people and easy to trade with. Old Sour face came around with sugar cane and potatoes tonite and wouldn’t accept anything. Evidently Egoon has been telling him a few things. I gave Egoon a P.A. and he was pleased with it. It rained heavily late this afternoon {F4.25} so we retired to our Klambos. The clouds and mist settled in again as it [sic] did last nite. Our hosts ate inside again and the pigs and dogs[,] unable to scurry around the fire to get their scraps[,] raised an awful fuss most of the evening. They ran around outside and squeeled [sic] and howled as only they can do in N.G. The kids and women came out and chased them under the houses but they came out for more. The food was cooked in the women’s house and the small boys carried handfulls [sic] of the wet cooked greens to the men in their house[,] running back and forth. The pigs and dogs followed[,] kicking up an awful fuss because no crumbs were dropped. After dusk Leroux and Matt sat around with the men in their house. It rained heavily all evening. The Papuans got a big kick out of the visit.