Thursday
October 21
1926

A busy morning of taking movies over to the village. We got out into the gardens and shot some good garden stuff with mountain scenery for background. No agricultural stuff though as yet. It was soon noon and we repaired to our camp for lunch. Oompah had it ready and we feasted on sweet potatoes, rice and a friend [sic] canned {F4.48} meat. As was the case yesterday the Papuans came to visit with us and trade in the afternoon. It rained slightly but the sun shone throughout the short shower and it was soon over. One of the pygmies who had been absent all day arrived in camp rather late in the afternoon and wanted Matt to make him some matches. He and his companion had spent the entire day cutting match sticks and they had them all tied up in a bundly [sic] and were very ernest [sic] in their request that we make them some matches. What to do[?] They had seen us do many miracles and if we couldn’t do that it would mean we would probably lose our prestiage [sic]. Matt was equal to the occasion however, and with a great deal of ceremony placed a new box of matches in an empty film pack tin without their seeing it and then exhibited another to them, empty. I took out one of the sticks and showed them they were too long so we measured one stick off carefully to the match box and after showing them the wood was not as good as our match wood because it wouldn’t burn[,] he placed the bundle of sticks they had made in the tin[,] covered it tight[,] and then placed it under his shirt which he had all folded up on the table. He lighted a match and past [sic] it over it back and forth [and] with a great deal of rubbing of hands and mismerizing [sic] gestures he finally extracted the tin. He opened it and took out the box of good matches. I lighted one and it burned brightly. They whoped [sic] it up and tapped their penis cases enthusiastically and the other chap immediately wanted Matt to make him a box. That was going too far so we had him donate something which he did, an elaborate arm ornament and soon he had a good box of matches for his bundle of sticks. Matt is now oppicial [sic, = official] match maker for the pygmies and he will probably be kept busy for they are in love with matches. The still pictures Dick developed last night turned out real well. Some were not so good but we have many good ones. Dick is kept busy working every night developing until midnight for we shot many {F4.49} packs while on our trip to Agentuwa. The movie test strips which he also develops are turning out all right. The film seems to be holding up well for being in New Guinea so long. That applies to both still and movies. The graphlex [sic, = graflex] is working once more. It was a beautiful clear moonlight [sic] night and failed to rain during the entire evening. Clear rainless nights are few and far between in New Guinea so when we have one it is enjoyed immensely.