Sunday
May 23rd
1926

Another Sunday I see by the day but it is just a plain ordinary day for us. As the Albatros was leaving early we were all up early and finished on some important letters we had to mail at the last minute. We are told now that the War Department wishes to see all movie and still film taken from the aid [sic, = air] in New Guinea. We have a letter which was just received before we left in Batavia but from our limited translation at the last minute we didn’t gather it to say that. Mr. Leroux informed us when we asked him about it that it was permission to take them. So we have written the American counsul [sic, = consul] where we left our valuable papers to furnish us with a literal translation of it. It is a funny thing that conditions imposed on us should be so strict especially when one of their own air men is at the present time in the U.S. learning everything he can about air service from our army. What good air pictures of Netherlands, New Guines [sic, = Guinea] would do our War Department is hard to see. They are a suspicious race on top of all the rest of their numerous faults. Dick took an early morning stroll and happened on Van Leeuwen and the army sergeatn [sic] looking at the radiator which the boys are repairing. They shook their heads sadly as though it was an awful mess this radiator which is off the ship and being fixed right this time by the boys themselves. I suppose they think that the ship will never fly again for they have no conception of things mechanical or air planes for that matter. They were highly worried when a twig went through the upper wing and made a small hole in it, which was easily repaired. The Dutch are weak sisters as a rule. Only one so far we have met has any guts at all and that is Leroux. He has a hard time however, for the others are trying to influence him that is [sic, = it] is risking death itself to ride in our plane. The old Ern if [sic, = is] far safer than the canoes in the rapids to anybody who has any sense of reasoning at all but they are so far behind the times [when] it comes {F1.3} to aviation here that they can’t see it. The army sure is jealous of the plane and will do everything in their power to hamper its activities. All of the army and navy men are drawing double pay for service in New Guinea so they naturally wouldn’t be in any hurry to get into the interior. They also get extra time for flying and the non-commissioned officers are anxious for some of that especially the radio men who want to go with the ship for radio purposes. The radio isn't worth a damn so it has been taken off so that the plane can carry a more useful load. It wouldn’t be of any use in case of a forced landing so what good it [sic, = is] it in the air when the plane is working all right. The answer is None – so it is off.

The Albatros left and with her departure goes communication with the outside world for eight weeks unless some[thing] miraculous happens to the wireless sets. We have food for six months so we are all right on that side. How far up into the interior we will be when it returns is problematical. They are working on the canoes and the first transport should start quickly now. Of course the decision of the Indian committee might hold things up but I don’t see how they can get any reply with no radio. It is true that they can receive but that is not much of an accomplishment for many a kid in the U.S. builds his own radio set that can receive for many miles also. Wish we had one here with a loud speaker. It would surprise them for they know nothing about the advancement of radio either in line with their general lack of knowledge on what is progressing in world affairs. Today has been the only day since we have arrived in New Guinea that has seemed like Sunday. There was a Sunday atmosphere throughout the camp[;] for the first time no axes were heard and all was still. It was a typical Sunday summer afternoon and because it was so much like a Sunday in the states we had to have pinapple [sic] for our Sunday dinner. After dinner we sat around and talked of Florida and many things in general so it was a typical way to spend a Sunday. Hans and Prince {F1.4} however, were hanging around the motor work shop and the Dyaks came in fives to have their tins sodered [sic, = soldered]. When Matt and I went down there there were about six of them around and they were busy watching Prince and Hans doing the work. They are to keep their food and stuff in when they are on the transport. Anji was there too and got confidential as could be. We learned that Posthumus (the military captain) had tried to scare him also on the safety of the aeroplane. Anji knew my limitations in Malay so he illustrated with a chip from a log. He picked it up and imitated the plane taking off. Then he circled once and dropped the chip to the ground saying Captain Posthumus had told him that it would happen to him if he rode in the plane. Anji was not worried, however, for he asked if it would be possible for him to ride in the ship when it goes up again. It takes more than intrigue and jealousy to scare Anji especially as he says “The Americans are always working and doing things” [sic] “They can fly. All the Dutchmen do is drink paits, and sleep” and he illustrated it by tilting his head and taking a drink, and then laying his head on his hand and closing his eyes. It was funny to watch him illustrate it as he did. Anji is not so dumb as I have remarked before. Then he wanted to know what the American word for “Hotforduma” was and we told him “God Damn”. So he repeated it and added “The Blonde” which is the monicker the Dutcher [sic] are known by. The Dyaks evidently don’t seem to think much of them either. I can't say that I blame them much for that. Anji also illustrated to the boys earlier in the day the difference between the Dutchmen and the Americans and the Dyaks. the “Dutch” he said drink half a day and sleep the other half. The Americans work hard all day and he pointed to the boy’s tools and benches. The Dyaks chop chop all day and he illustrated that. It was funny the boys said. Anji also confided in us that Captain Posthumus had told him not to visit us in the evening. They are evidently jealous of the way the Dyaks have taken to us and are trying {F1.5} to discourage it. The boys have been fixing and loaning them tools and doing things for them and they appreciate it. They showed their appreciation by making our house fancier than any house in camp. They like to do work for us. We have also visited their house and they like that. We give them tobacco and empty tins also and that is appreciated. That latest underhand trick of Posthumus to discourage Anji and the Dyaks from riding in the plane and keeping him from visiting us is the smallest and most kid-like stunt of all they have pulled. It is unbelievable that a civilized race [such] as the Dutch proclaim to be could be so small. Of course, it is just a part of the army’s tricks to hinder the plane all they can. If we can get the Dyaks to ride in the plane with us – and they are all anxious to do that – we could go up to Splitsings Camp and bring ten Dyaks and get far into the interior before they get to Batavia Camp. We are certainly going to give Anji a ride at all costs one of these days and then there will be plenty of fun. They will try their best to prevent that if possible.

Hans has just informed me of some more of the Dutchman’s nature which he learned on the boat when he was cruising around on the Fomalhaut. They all knew that he was Danish but had lived in America for some years. Every once in a while he said, from the captain down to the third engineer, they asked him how he liked America and Americans. Hans said fine. He was going back there to stay as soon as he finished this assignment. They said to him that they didn’t think Americans were polished enough and that they had no foundation but were always doing something sensational and then forgetting to finish it. They evidently don’t seem to think much of Americans. From their treatment accorded us so far that could be taken as a fact. Matt and I have been remarking that Wollaston must have had the same trouble with them for our experience thus far has learned us many things that we couldn’t read in between the lines {F1.6} of his book. Now we can see many little digs that were not clear to us then.