"By Aeroplane to Pygmyland" Accounts of the 1926 Smithsonian-Dutch Expedition to New Guinea

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Journal of Stanley Hedberg
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June 12, 1926 : Albatross Camp (Base Camp) ; Mamberamo River ; Papuans of Bisano


Saturday
June 12
1926

It was guiet [sic] throughout the camp today because the Dyaks were {F1.87} away. It is always rather quiet when they are on the transport. There are one or two who are sick remaining and even they help a little for they walk around lending color to the camp. The boys continued their work on the plane. I worked on a message which I intend [on] sending to the Indian Committee giving our side of the story. I think it will be a good thing to do. I forgot to mention yesterday that we received a wireless message from the Davidson's [sic, = Davidsons] at Tosari. It came in the evening and said “Go to it boys. Good luck. Shall I join you queaite[.]” We could not understand the last word. It evidently had been gummed up on the many relays it had to pass through on its long journey here. Sparks, the navy sergeant who received it asked Manokwari to repeat it but that was the way he had it so he asked for a repeat all along the line. As yet we haven’t received it. We con’t [sic] seem to guess what he meant, either. The closest we can get it [sic, = is] “Shall I join you quietly or quickly[.]” He evidently had just seen the radio dispatch about Hans flying the Dyaks in New Guinea. They have a wireless station at Tosari and receive the same Radio news that we receive here. It evidently has steamed him up for he was anxious to come with us. Davidson would certainly be a fine addition to this party. He is a nice chap and so is his wife. It wouldn’t surprise us if they steamed up to Albatros camp one of these days from Manokwari. If they knew it could be done I am sure that they would pay us a visit. We think of them often for the candy they gave us before we left is certainly enjoyed by all concerned every now and then.

Leroux and Matt went hunting in the afternoon and Leroux came back with a pigeon. It was an old one, however, and from its looks would be tough. Sally accompanied them. They skirted around the hill behind Pioneer Camp and had one Papuan with them and a Dyak. When they suddenly came into the clearing at Pioneer Camp they ran into the cows who are parked there. The Papuan had never seen a cow before in his life and he was scared. He drew his bow and placed an arrow in {F1.88} it ready to shoot when they stopped him just in time. We came near to having fresh meat before our time. They also saw two kangeroos [sic] and one cassorary [sic] but they were not in shooting distance. The Papuans (Matt’s friends) are still with us. They are hanging around camp and I believe have a Kampong close by. The “candy man” with his quinine made the rounds and Prince obtained his at the Dyak house. A Papuan was there and seeing everybody putting their hands out for their medicine he got the impression that something good was being passed around. So he put out his hand and asked for some of the good looking white pills. The Doctor’s assistant gave him the customary allotment of four and Prince told him it was “Bagoose” and informed him he should chew them one by one. He did and from Prince’s account he made some terrible faces. They kept telling him that it was good so he tried the second with more bitter results. The third was hard chewing and after the fourth he wasn’t agreed that it was good eating. It reminded us of the Pennzoil we had them eating and thinking was good. The oil would have made a good wash down for the quinine. They are funny people and we all get quite a kick out of them.

The pig escaped yesterday from the large stockade they had erected for him. He had been getting away all day but the convicts after a hard chase always succeeded in captuing [sic] him and returning him to his pen. He didn’t like his confinement and squealed most of the day. Finally either Lieutenant Korteman or Jordans opened the door to see how he was getting along and the little pig had a call to go to the market and went. The Lieutenant shouted wildly for a boy but the boys were absent so the pig made his escape. All is quiet now that Pete is gone. He will probably die in the jungle for hs [sic] is too young to shift for himself as yet. It would have been against Dutch religion or regulation or standards or whatever you may call it {F1.89} for the Lieutenant to chase the pig and get him. They are helpless without their boys. We get a big laugh every time one of them wash[es]. They call a boy and sit out on the chair and have him pour the water over his head, and then his hands while he washes. If that isn’t lazyness [sic] I don’t know what it is. I often wonder if they are as lazy as that in Holland or whether they get into the habit when they have been in the Indies for a long time. They certainly get to depend upon the natives to do everything for them and when the natives can’t do it or do it well they just let it go for they never think of doing it themselves. That is one reason why this country is as primitive and unknown as it is. They have no initiative and no go-get it spirit which is necessary to penetrate into the interior. They have had many expeditions, it is true, but they carry so many of the personal luxuries they are used to in Java that it takes hundreds of men to carry their tents, chairs, tables, and goodness knows what.

Van Leeuwen came by rather excitedly in the evening with a telegram in his hand. He wanted to know if we knew what kind of oil the motor boats used. He had send [sic] a radio for more oil and they came back with the question “What kind of oil do you want”. [sic] We of course didn’t know what kind of oil they burned so he at our suggestion asked the navy men who are in charge of running the boats. That is a fair indication of how things are run on this expedition. They get better every day. The message from the Davidsons from Tosari[,] Sparks told us[,] was sent to Makassar to Ambon to Dobo to Manokwari and then to us here. When anything is sent from here it is sent to Manokwari to Dobo to Ambon to Java. The army short wave works direct with Java when it works. He handles only army messages, however, and if it wasn’t for the navy we wouldn’t have any means of communication at all. That is ourselves personally. The navy has been splendid to us though. If the army would only be as nice we would get far and have {F1.90} less trouble.




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