Wednesday
June 2
1926

It was another rainy misty morning when we awoke with the cry of “Come and get it while its hot”. The boys enjoy crying that out now and laugh after every call. A new convict, a friend of our No. 1 boy[,] joined our forces this monring [sic] in place of one of those who loafed in the woods. He wanted to change positions for he couldn’t understand us so we had another selected. This one seems to be a good boy and as he is a native friend of the good boy the two of them should get along fine together. If that is so our troubles will be over for the No. 1 boy is a good boy.

We learned from Korteman this morning that the Papuans who were {F1.35} here yesterday had told a soldier that they had seen four men in a prow going down the river. That would be the three convicts [who] escaped and the soldier with them. The theory is getting stronger every day that the soldier joined forces with them for some unknown reason. They continue the search in the jungles every day despite this, however for it might be that he fell down a ravine and was killed. How long they will continue searching for him is not known. They are doing everything possible, however, to find him and if he had an accident of that kind it will soon be known for when the Dyaks return they will be able to find him if it is possible for anybody to do so.

It rained pretty heavily and steadily during the monring [sic]. Dr. Van Leeuwen said that he had only one day of rain on his seven day trip. We have had much more than that. I believe it is because of the high hills all around us. Dick’s camera shutter went on the bum and he sent a wireless to Soerabaia asking for another. It is on his new camera that he purchased there. He fixed it the first time when it didn’t work as it should but a day later it developed the same symptoms again so he thought it best to wire for a new one.

Just after we had finished eating our luncheon, two Dyak canoes floated down stream. It was Posthumus and the transport returning. They made goot [sic] time to return so early. The trip took but six days, four through the rapids – which is excellent time for they had the motor boats with them – one to the beginning of the rapids and not quite an entire day – a half day – coming back from Batavia Camp. They left that point at eight o’clock this morning, Captain Posthumus reported and they arrived here a little after one. With such quick time being made through the rapids by the transports it won’t be long until we are located at Head Camp with what the {F1.36} aeroplane can do to help it along. They left Jordans and six canoes at the mouth of the river to pick up Leroux and Stirling the next day or so. The two canoes which arrived were filled with Dyaks and it was good to see them again. We have missed them during their absence. Anji did not return with them but waited for Stirling and Lroux [sic] with Jordans. Van Leeuwen has just sent a wireless message to the Indian committee telling of his trip and also saying that Leroux and Stirling are visiting a native village up the river. The last sentence of the message, which incidentally was signed Explexider, a code word for Expedition Leader used by Stirling, asked for an answer relative to the change in leadership. So evidently they have not decided anything as yet. The delayed answer would make it apparent that they are discussint [sic, = discussing] the advisability of changing. It may be that they can read between the lines and see what is up. Hope they decide soon for it is unpleasant to wait and wonder what is going to happen. Will be pleased with [sic, = when] Matt returns for it has been damn lonesome without him here in camp. For obvious reasons it is hard for one man to keep up the moral[e] of the rest especially when one of the others is doing all he can to break down their moral[e]. Dr. Hoffman is especially pleased with the lack of malaria we have had so far. Just two cases in the hospital now he says. That is a good record. He hopes to keep it down. I hope that he succeeds. The transport party reported many mosquitoes at Batavia camp which is true to former predictions. That is a bad place and we won’t want to stay there any longer than is necessary. I would, however, like to make one trip up and down the rapids with the transport just to see how it is. It would furnish much to write about I know. I am hopeful of being able to do that later when more food is cached up there. Prince and Hans are busy today fixing up the floor in the front cockpit. The other flooring hasn’t stood the climate and they are putting in a heavier one so that when the {F1.37} plane is loaded all of the material will not fall through. It is another hot day. The rain has stopped and it is sultry as can be as I write. It is cloudy and when the sun disappears behind one of them it is just as warm for the humidity is great. The new boy is a good one and he gets on well. As the other boy can talk to him he knows what to do and does it quickly. It will be a change for the better I am sure. When Doc’s boy comes back he will have to serve under our No. 1 boy for he is the best of the lot. He propbably [sic] will not like that. The Bakery which has been under construction for the last several days was completed and from the looks of things it is ready for its formal openeing [sic]. The Baker, who is a typical looking baker has his wheeled stoves and everything all set up. The boys, Hans, Prince and Dick have named it the Riverside Bakery and Hans says that it must be expecting to do considerable export business for it is located right in front of the dock. We are waiting for the formal announcement of its opening and are anxious to taste of the bread. It should be good bread. Our hard bread toast which comes in large gasoline tins has tasted better from the beginning and now it is a delicacy. The same is true with the DengDeng. Dick and Prince at first wouldn’t even taste of it but now they can eat it all right. It will taste better to them as the time progresses. The monotony of having the same kind of food meal after meal is tolling and I’ve done my darnest [sic] to change it as much as possible. I still enjoy the hash and the rice as well as the other. It is not bad eating, I don’t think. I’ve run in some good oil sardines the last several days for their benefit, however, and they were enjoyed. I also enjoyed them, but Prince and Hans got the biggest kick of all out of them. Dick doesn’t like sardines. It is hard to get one thing in general that everybody likes. That’s what makes cooking hard. I’ll try cornbeef [sic] tonight. But then again Dick doesn’t like that either. {F1.38}

The sergeant (navy wireless man) just past [sic, = passed] and said he had a nice trip with the transport but he added: “Jesus Christus” mosquitoes, and he shook his head and hands with disgust. Must be bad up there. They haven’t been bad here as yet but the last few nights we have noticed more of them. I had one in with me in bed last night and got him this morning after he had feasted to his heart’s content last night off my flesh and blood. I think if it continues, I’ll have to take a flash light to bed with me like Dick has been doing ever since he arrived and hunt them down every fifteen minutes during the night. That would interfere with my sleep, however, and I’d rather sleep and let them bite than keep awak [sic] worrying about them all night long. Richard is also suffering from rheumatism at night. It is from the dampness I believe. He says he wakes up with terrible pains and sometimes is unable to sleep. That’s too bad. The movies Dick shot of the Papuans were all right, a test development of the film showed. He knows his movie camera fine and dandy. With the motor boats both at Batavia Camp now it will be more difficult to take off and land with the plane but Hans and Prince say that it can be done all right. They will have to taxie [sic] right up to the boom or quite close to it and have a Dyak prow in readiness in case she should miss. A Dyak prow with many Dyaks and two soldiers has just pulled out into the river going down stream. Perhaps they are going over the convicts. Then again they might just be going to Pioneer camp where 9 cows are parked. They were paddling too swift for that, however, I believe. One cow is here and it is necessary to visit the old Pioneer Camp site to obtain food for her. Presume that they will soon be butchering the cows for meat, one by one. That will be a change in the menu which will be welcome to the boys, if I can cook it properly. Will have to tune in on the radio housewives hour and see if I can’t pick up a good recipe. {F1.39}