The transport from Head Camp arrived at nine this morning. Prince had received Dick’s note and a note from him said that he had decided to stay and look out for the film as he had been instructed to do. He sent up three tins[,] chiefly food. One was lost in the river coming on the transport when the convict carrying it fell into the river. One package of print paper from Van Wingen’s was in it. It[’]s the first loss we have suffered so far and hope it[’]s the last. We can get along without food all right but the print paper was valuable for printing pictures. Everybody is out. Prince sent up considerable luxuries so we are well stocked again in that line. Lieut. Jordans also received word that the transport had been attacked one day out of Motor Camp and four Papuans were killed. The Dyaks, Soldiers and convicts on the transport all had to jump into the river to keep from getting shot. Luckily the first barrage of arrows didn’t hit anyone and the rifles and shot guns brought into use scattered them quickly. Four were killed[;] one being riddgled [sic] with sot [sic] gun bullets which evidences the fact that they were close. The transport put back to Motor Camp and the Sergeant in charge there came up with it the next day himself. They came thru without any difficulty. Doctor Hoffman also wrote that the Papuans were coming back in the vicinity of Lower Head Camp where the first attack and killing occurred. So far they have not staged another attack but they are watching them close. There are only a few men at Lower Head Camp when the transport is not there and the camp is established to be used when the water is high and it is impossible to go to {F4.78} Head Camp by canoe. Overland transport is then used which is slow and doesn’t get much food up the line for the carriers cannot carry much. The trail is a difficult one, so it seems that there has been considerable trouble on our transportation line. The Papuans have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted on the Rouffaer [River]. They will probably get wrose [sic] as time goes on. The use of the rifles however always scatters them without any further argument. Still it is not a pleasant feeling to have the thought that they are lying in ambush on the jungle shores ready to release a bunch of arrows at you as you pass by. It is possible that the Dyaks on the transport have done something to displease them on the many trips the transports have made since the line was established. With the transport also came another insulting note from Posthumus to Van Leeuwen according to the Rev. Doc. He brought it over and translated it for us. It said that he was a lot of things and that Posthumus didn’t want to have anything further to do with him and wound up by saying he was no gentleman as the Americans had said. Van was furious of course. It seems he addressed him in one of the two languages they use when they want to insult anybody. He tried to argue with me about it but I told him I had not changed my ideas of things since I had that talk with him at A.C. and why argue with me for it didn’t say anything about me saying he was no gentleman in that note but said Americans. He was evidently eager to get me to say something so he could see what I had in line of arguments against him but I didn’t enter into his argument at all. He repeated he had warned me but I didn’t have any warning or knew what he meant or of whom he had warned me. He was thick with P. in the beginning when he deserted the scientific ranks when he wanted to get the leadership and now that he has it again he is anxious to get back on the side of the fence he rightfully belongs. I think he stirred up P. for that reason. P. is dis-{F4.79} pleased over the newspaper’s printing his nasty digs in the journal which Doorman has published about the Army. He also received a wireless from the Governor General which settles the collection business once and for all. The Gov. wirelessed strick [sic] orders that no one was to be allowed to collect anything except the scientiests [sic]. I pointed out to him that was nice but why didn’t it come in the beginning. He didn’t ask for it until M.C. and P. and the rest of them commenced collecting the first transport up and probably have all they want now and in Java. That’s the way they play and think we are dumb enough to fall for their clever acting. Leroux was pleased with the wireless for he had won the battle he started in Java and which the Army failed to recognize. They sure are a funny bunch. Van [Leeuwen] Plans on going down with the transport which leaves tomorrow morning. The mail arrived with the transport with letters and magazines.
