Thursday
June 17
1926

It was nearly eight o’clock when we bid goodbye to Dr. Van Leeuwen[,] {F1.104} Lieutenant Jordans and the seven canoes loaded heavily with gasoline and oil and Dr. Van Leeuwen’s botanical material slipped noiselessly around the bend of the river. One of the Doctor’s assistants was also a member of the transport. Van Leeuwen had his mantre [sic] and his boy. Thirty Eight Dyaks [sic] manned the seven canoes. Anji Ipoei was in charge of the canoe in which Van Leeuwen was seated. They will return as soon as they get the transport to Batavia Camp. There were also a few soldiers who will be used at the various camps to be established at Motor Camp and Head Camp.

The convicts were busy during the morning building the steps and a landing at the plane’s new anchorage. It is a good place. The work done by the convicts and that done by the Dyaks is very noticealbe [sic]. After the transport left it was quiet throughout the camp as it has been in the past. There is getting no getting [sic] away from it[,] the Dyaks lend much color and activity to this camp. I visited with Leroux in the morning and the Papuans came over. He traded with them for several things and it was interesting to watch how he went about it. He sure knows how to handle primitive people. He finally succeeded in obtaining the shell bracelet which I had endeavored to get[,] for three packages of tobacco and two packages of papers. It was a good trade. He also obtained some good arrows. I tried remembering some of the Papuans names and succeeded in getting three of them, Canagua, Komah, [sic, = Komaha] and Yakop. They had a difficult time remembering mine and kept asking me repeatedly. It is certainly interesting to talk with them even through [sic] their malay is somewhat limited. Leroux gets along with them very nicely however. Later they were at our house and I tried to obtain another shell bracelet (Leroux got the other for Matt) and a shell ornament one of them wore around his waist. They prize them highly for I offered amny [sic] things including my Dunhill Pipe again but with no success. Komaha {F1.105} however, was anxious to get a tin of meat and said that tomorrow he would bring a bow and some arrows if I would give him either the pipe or the meat. I wouldn’t part with the pipe of course but I wanted to see how much he valued his shell ornaments. Leroux also obtained some of the small bags that they carry over their arms and in which they carry their worldly possessions. Red was among those present but he has toned down considerable [sic] and doesn’t talk as much as he did in the beginning. The red tobacco tin I presented him with yesterday was missing. I presume that one of the older men took it away from him. The small boys have practically nothing and to illustrate their fondness for decorating themselves one of the little chaps had a bandage which the doctor put on his leg wrapped around his forehead. They are very dirty and in the warm weather (it is getting warmer every day) they have a very unpleasant odor.

Korteman visited with us this afternoon for some time. He is a nice chap. When the transport pulled away this morning he remarked: “There they go up the river in canoes just like they did three hundred years ago”. It was a significant remark.

It was magazine day so I ordered the five days supply. We received a good batch of fresh meat (it was from the tenderloin) yesterday and today it was spoiled so we had to throw it away. The ice machine was apart so it was impossible to keep it in there. It will be in order for the next batch of fresh meat in about ten days or os [sic]. Fresh foodstuffs certainly do not last long in this climate. Even the bread molds quickly. The fresh bread we receive each day is very good and we enjoy it. The river is falling rapidly and if it continues we will have a large gravel bank in our front yards. It was a beautiful day all day although somewhat hot. And then it rained a little after four and is still raining as I write. The sky was clearer than usual today and it would have been a good flying day. The work on {F1.106} the ship is finished and tomorrow Hans and Prince are going to start the regular schedule of the Batavia Express. I presume that the soldiers and Dyaks at Batavia Camp will be pleased for it will mean fresh bread for them again. The plane is standing up rather well under the conditions which prevail in the tropics. It certainly is a good test for a plane’s endurance. We were talking it over today and decided that when we finish this expedition the facts and figures we will have will be of extreme importance not only in Java but for planes to be flown anywhere in the tropics. Hans says that if he has to do it again he will know just what to have put in or left off of a plane. He is greatly interested in the plane’s welfare and is watching it like a hawk.

I visited the Dyak boy who scalded himself late yesterday afternoon and found that he had quite a burn. He was lying quiet and evidently was suffering a great amount of pain. I felt sorry for him but could not say much “Teda Bagoose” [sic, = tidak bagus (Malay)] which means “No good” in Malay was the best I could do. There are about fourteen patients in the hospital and every morning at 6:3- Dr. Hoffman treats about forty. He is a busy individual. Prince is not feeling so well today. He has a headache and tried to sleep it off in the afternoon. He is feeling rather low as I write. I hope that he doesn’t become ill. Most of us have been rather well up to date and we are pleased. I hope that it continues. We recognized the fact that it was Thursday again for the “Candy Man” with his quinine was around. We are getting accustomed to it and now have no difficulty in taking the four pills all at once. At first I took them one at a time. As we have received no correction on the last sentence of the Davidson message we sent a reply. It was as follows: “Cheerio. All well. Last sentence message garbled.” I hope that they have not left Tosari and they will receive the message all right. They may even tell us {F1.107} what the last sentence of their former message was.

We also had a short session of revolver practice today. Dick fired his automatic, Doc his six shooter and I the [.]38 colt. I am a poor shot. Mr. Leroux visited us for a short time during the evening and He, [sic] Hans and Matt and I looked over the map. There is much unexplored land in New Guinea especially in this section. It is a large country and there is much exploring to be done. Aeroplanes we decided would be and probably will be in the future, the only feasible way to explore it.