Friday
Nov 5
1926

A nice morning. The first one we have had now for some time. No rain during the night which was also unusual. The sun broke thru the trees[,] early forecasting a good day for our last day here and for our pictures. Igoone and all of the pygmies including the women folks were on hand early with the large pig which they had promised to slaughter just before we departed. Many new visitors arrived {F4.88} during the day. At nine thirty they were rather impatient for the pig killing ceremony so we all adjourned to their village and they started the farewell ceremonies. The pig was troussed [sic, = trussed] up on a long pole and set in the middle of the village on two posts in the ground. It was a little too close to the camera so we had them move back some and two of the pygmies held the pole on their shoulders. Igoone then stepped forward with a great deal of ceremony and shot the pig. It was a large one however, and it took about five arrows to end it all. Dick shot away with the movie and I got stills. After the pig was dead and before the dogs were on hand eager for the warm blood which spurted out. They were kidked [sic] and chased away. As the pig was struggling for the last few breaths Igoone’s Mother came out of the house and with a great deal of pomp and ceremony waved a green sprig back and forth over the dying pig. She was evidently saying a prayer of some sort. One of the visitors – a chieftain from another village – made some sort of protest but Igoone said it was all right and stood his ground. From the little we could learn of what it was all about – and they worked themselves up into a high pitch of excitement immediately after the pig died – the pig was a sacred one and belonged to Igoone’s Mother and should not have been killed. Igoone was anxious to keep our friendship for he motioned and waved his arms as he spoke to the others and then came over and snapped fingers with us. He was doing it for us and therefore it was O.K. was his argument as far as I could learn. Leroux who understands the language very well got the whole story he says and will tell us about it when we come in Java. It was finally settled and with all of the natives shouting and whooping it up the pig was carried back to our camp with everybody following. Dick had gone ahead and set up and was ready when they marched into the camp. During the day visitors from all sections of the mountains here kept arriving. Some brought some good material {F4.89} and traded it, so Matt was kept rather busy. Igoone is going down to Head Camp with us. Many others want to follow with us and carry for cowries but we refused. There will be several who will go with us though I’m sure. Shortly after lunch we heard the call drum being sounded down the hill[;] another transport was arriving. It was Tonalinda [sic, = Tomalinda] and a large number of Dyaks. He brought a note to Leroux from Van Leeuwen saying the boat will leave Albatros Camp December 3rd for the return. That was good news. Lieut. Kosteman arrived at three o’clock and was all tired out, and was the last one in camp. The pig was promptly dressed by the soldiers, the Papuans watching the operations very closely[,] and we will have some of it for dinner tonite. We also bought a small one but did not have him killed for Lieut. wants to bring him back with him when he comes. It begins to look like the beginning of the end now for there are many carriers here and everybody will be able to go down Laccass [sic, = lekas (Malay, “quickly or soon”)]. Dick was busy most of the afternoon packing the film and sealing it in the large tins. He had some red dope from the plane and when he was finished decorated the pygmies at their request. When the dope started to dry it drew up the skin and some of them tried to wash it off without success. It worried them and one of the head men came and asked if it was all right. Matt assured them that it was and would make them strong so they were all pleased. We learned from Kortemanthat [sic] another boat with mail arrived October 24th so we will have more mail when we get back to Motor Camp. No note from Hamer so he evidently decided not to come up for some reason or other. If Korteman could come up Hamer most certainly should have been given the opportunity of coming also. Everybody is busy packing up and getting ready to leave.