Thursday
May 27
1926

The time and the days are going fast and it doens’t [sic] seem that we have been here almost a month now. I suppose that it is because we are all so busy doing things. It is hard to keep track of the days. If it wasn’t for the diary we wouldn’t know what day or date of the year it is. But it makes no difference what day or date it is here. What we are interested in is in getting into the interior and getting in contact with the pygmies. That will take a long long time by canoe for the river line is going to be the longest line they have ever had on any expedition. Both the wireless sets are working now for Army Sparks just came over and informed us that he got Java last night. The Navy set is working with Manokwari every morning. The noise of the motor generally wakes us up at six o’clock in the morning, now but that doesn’t make any difference to us for we are pleased that we have the radio communication. And besides it is time {F1.19} to get up then for the early morning hours are the best hours in the East Indies. It is the best working time. Lieutenant Korteman is busy getting the food and supplies ready for the transports which leave tomorrow. There is a good deal of work connected with that. When Leroux and Matt left yesterday it was necessary to have twenty or twenty[-]two convicts for carriers for just those two and the luggage they had selected for fourteen days. That is just an illustration of how many men are needed on an expedition of this kind when there is any overland carrying to be done. It is a difficult country to explore under the present system of exploration used by the Dutch and takes much time[,] money and men and effort. Aeroplanes would cut that down to half and make it easier and quicker. Hans was just remarking last night “If we only had another aeroplane. Oh Boy wouldn’t that be the berries.” It sure would. It will be the only way to explore this country the next time. Whether they will use aeroplanes on their next exploration trip is problematical. They surely should for it would save time and money. Perhaps they will when they see it demonstrated that it can be done. The Dyaks are busy putting the finishing touches on their canoes and they have been back and forth all morning borrowing the bit and brace to drill holes with and also the plane. It would facilitate matters considerably if those modern tools were part of the expedition’s equipment but the Dutch have evidently thought that the Dyaks were not capable of using modern tools. They surely are though and they have been using everything that we brought along. When they see it work just once they know how to use it and use it good. They sharpen the blade in the plane after using it also so that you could cut hair with it. They keep their own tools in tip top shape and when they use anything of ours they always sharpen it before returning it. The Dyaks are great people. I can’t help but remarking that time and time again. Sparks has been sending to me and at first it was difficult {F1.20} for me to get him for he makes his characters slow and holds on to them as they do in wireless in order to make them strong for distance. He can also send snappy but he says it is better to learn slow. I finally got so I could get some of it. A little practise [sic] every day and I hope to be able to get something if sent slowly. It is more fun to send than to receive for the other comes only after much work and practice going slow.

Anji visited us last night and we had an interesting chat whith [sic] him. He informed us in low voice that the Captain was angry with the Dyaks for putting sideboards in our house and also for giving it all of the fancy decorations. Anji was going to decorate the walls on his own time with some red paint which we secured for him but the Captain said “Hutfor dumah” [sic]. That, he said, is why he hadn’t done it as he promised. He sure was peeved last night and he had reason to be. For some unknown reason Anji’s Dyaks numbering 39 (the other leader has 30) did not receive a canteen today as did the other Dyaks. He was all “het” up over it and I don’t blame him. It was Anji and his men who built Albatros camp in addition to clearing it off for they were here first. Here is what they did. Cleared the land, aided by the convicts but the amount of work they do you could put in your eye and have plenty room left, built all of the houses with the exception of Van Leeuwen’s[,] the motor house, the officers house framework[,] our framework and one warehouse. Then to be overlooked in that manner is not pleasant for them. I don’t know what Posthumus[’] idea was. He was anxious to know when Stirling and Leroux will return. He is about on the point of going back. It is a dangerous situation for the Dyaks are indispensable. I am sure that Leroux and Stirling can pacify them, however. I am surprised that Posthumus would make such a mistake for he has had plenty of experience in handling Dyaks in Boreno [sic] and knows their disposition. Perhaps {F1.21} he did it intentionally. The news received by radio today contained nothing of interest.