Sunday
May 30
1926

“Come and get it while it is hot” the meal cry which we have taught to one of the convicts is what woke me up this morning. It was another Sunday but the last two days with little or no activity has [sic, = have] been like Sundays. However, this was a real Sunday so it had to be observed. There are no churches within canoe or walking distance so we had to pass up services as we have in the past. It was a nice sunny Sunday until about four o’clock when it started to rain and to rain heavily. It is still coming down as I write. Another R in the weather history column. It is nearly the end of the month.

Today was magazine day or shopping day despite the fact that it was Sunday so I ordered our five day supplies. Dick and Prince went hunting after dinner. They located a good hunting spot for they saw many cassoraries [sic], and pig tracks. Had two shots but they were too far away to get the birds. Dick was in listening to Australian {F1.28} music and news in the navy radio station last night. He said it was coming in rather well. We shall all attend tonight if the rain lets up. From the looks of things now though reception will not be the best. Being Sunday we later learned that there would be no music. Tomorrow night will be the night. As we were eating supper, Lieut. Kortman [sic, = Korteman], the supply officer, who is in charge of the camp military while Captain Posthumus is away, and Dr. Hoffman came in. They wanted to know if and when we had done any shooting and where for one of the soldiers who had departed for a hunting trip at eight o’clock in the morning had not returned and it was after seven and dark. It was also raining. Dick and Prince told them that they had shot twice about four o’clock and over towards the right. We, Hans and I[,] had heard both shots. The soldiers had gone off towards the left. A searching party was immediately sent out and Korteman and Hoffman joined them. It was raining heavily and of course the jungle was black. They searched all around the camp and fired many shots but no return shot was heard. They were still out when we retired. I fell asleep quickly and had been asleep some time when I heard a call. It came from the jungle searching party and it was a weird noise. The echo came back rather faintly and then a ghastly silence. No answer. They continued to call far into the night and I felt sorry for the poor soldier who had not returned. The jungle in the day time is bad enough to get lost in but at night with it raining heavily was no place for one to be alone. He had gone out with another soldier and had become separated from him early in the morning. The other soldier returned at 11:30. Dr. Hoffman says that the man had the reputation of being a little bit queer. I went to sleep after some time with that weird call and the resounding echo ringing in my ears and wondered how he would stand the night in the jungle if he had not met with an accident. If he had met with an accident – The Papuans are said to be not so friendly on the side of the river where our camp is located – {F1.29} it wouldn’t be so nice for it will be some time before he can be found in this thick jungle. And it is so large.