Saturday
November 6
1926

We were up early and after breakfast everything was packed {F4.90} and we bid goodbye to the pygmies. Leroux decided he would leave tomorrow morning so we are alone but have a big transport of carriers for all of the ethnological collection is with us. Jordans was to leave today to go to Saleh with food and then come down. Leroux and Korteman were to break camp tomorrow and with their departure E.C. will be deserted. A large number of the natives were present to bid us farewell. Igoone and 4 or 5 others are to come with Leroux to H.C. when he leaves. We gave the pygmies a parting gift and were off. Dick went on ahead with the cameras for we plan to get some movies showing how the transport line functions[.] Half way down the mountain side we came upon one convict who was sick and could go no farther, so Matt sent him back with a note to Jordans. Going down was much easier than coming up and we were soon at the river and the suspansion [sic] bridge. The Dyaks had worked on it and put it in good shape. We were on the homeward stretch now for with the leaving of E.C. is the first step on our long journey back to America for the expedition is now returning. We will leave A.C. December 3rd according to the latest advice. The Rouffaer was very low so we made excellent progress especially when following the river. The trail itself, however, was not in as good shape as when we came up. Many of the log bridges which were built over the ravines and gullies having had much traffic on them were not as stable as they could have been. Many of the hand rails were broken and we had to be careful for the logs were small and slippery. A misstep in many cases would be disastrous. One Dyak did fall off the trail later in the day and injured his leg and arm and head severely. We made camp at the first river. Five Dyaks did not show up. One of them had hurt his leg and the others were staying with him[,] going slow. Did not feel well today, had lite touch of fever and going tough in afternoon as result. {F4.91}