Sunday
June 27
1926

Another Sunday with typical Sunday weather. We enjoyed a late Sunday breakfast. It was eight thirty before we were up and stirring. There is nothing much to do so we are sleeping later. Matt and I busied ourselves getting out a general “Dear Folks” letter most of the day. I copied it from his diary. It should prove interesting reading to the folks back home for we selected the high spots or [sic, = of] our stay here so far. It made twenty one pages and runs considerably {F1.136} over 18,000 words. It is true that that is a rather long letter but we hope that it will be enjoyed. It will also make good news material for the folks to furnish the papers who have been clamoring for news of the expedition. It includes the flights of the plane to date in New Guinea as well as Matt’s trip to a neighboring Papuan village.

The Dyaks as usual on their day of rest went hunting. They had excellent results and as I sat and wrote in the afternoon they came back with three and four birds each. Anji succeeded in killing a splendid Bird of Paradise. He showed it to us. It was beautiful and many a woman in the states would give a great deal to have it perched on her hat if the law allowed it. It rained heavily again at four o’clock and it blew into our front porch with such violence that we had to retire inside and close the door. It continued for about an hour or more. Dick, who was hunting, returned wet to the skin. He hadn’t secured any game but did succeed in getting a leech in his eye which the Doctor took out quickly. The leeches are very bad in the woods and are not pleasant. To get one in ones eye is about the wrost [sic] thing that can happen. Just before dinner time the rain stopped and it was delightfully cool. As I write the moon is trying to break through the coulds [sic] across the river. It has not yet succeeded and the dim light which shines through the low hanging clouds brings out in fantastic styles the irregular tree tops of the jungle which are reflected dully in the murky water below. A huge log floats by and looks like a huge freighter heavily loaded. It is moving swiftly for the river continues to rise and the current has become swifter. We wonder how Hans and Prince are getting along at Batavia Camp. It is lonesome here without them. Last night we had an interesting session with Anji Ipoei. Matt gave him some important facts relative to the size of the earth and the sun. He was greatly surprised to learn that there was only one fifth earth compared to four fifths {F1.137} water on the globe. He has a keen mind and listens attentively to the knowledge which Matt imparts to him. It is good practice for us also for the only way to learn Malay is to speak it. It is startling how much one can say with a limited vocabulary when one has a good pair of arms and can demonstrate one’s meaning. Anji sides [sic, = sighs?] now and then and furnishes a word which has us stumped. He is anxious that we come to Borneo with the flying machine after we return to the United States. He said that he would see that we are well taken care of should we ever decide to come to Borneo. I am sure we would be treated royally. He likes America and Americans very much. He expressed the hope that Dyaks would be given an education such as Americans had from books. They are anxious to learn and with the opportunity would make excellent students. I think Holland is overlooking her best bet when she fails to realize the intelectual [sic] abilities of the Dyaks in Borneo. Anji is interesting. We enjoy every visit he pays us. They will load the canoes tomorrow and the next day depart up the river with another transport load of food.