Thursday
June 3
1926

There was great excitement in camp for so early in the morning. We missed our convict boys but they had prepared breakfast before they disappeared. We learned that a general inspection was being held and the quarters of the convict prisoners were being searched. They were all lined up and had guards posted over them while a sergeant and an assistant went through their belongings. Food and things were missing from time to time and the escaped ones were thought to have taken food from the others. It was magazine day so it was easy to check up on those who had too much food in their bunks. The inspection lasted some hours and every boy[’]s box was gone through thoroughly. They found a good many things that they shouldn’t have and about two dozen were brought up before Captain Posthumus to explain matters. One had stolen the oil cloth covering that is a part of each soldier’s equipment. Others had various other articles. My boy was in the lot to my surprise. He had a European shirt which he had brought to me and said he had found on the river bank near where we hang our clothes to dry. I was busy at the time and as I didn’t know who it belonged to told him to keep it or do anything he wanted with it. I didn’t know then that it was against the regulations for them to have clothing of any kind. So it seemed as if he was going to get in bad. I waited close by and when his case came up he told Posthumus the facts and Posthumus brought the shirt to me and asked me about it. I explained the situation and explained that I had told him to keep it for himself for I didn’t want it and I didn’t think it belonged to any of us. He dismissed him immediately and my boy sure showed his satisfaction for he was plenty scared. It would have been unfortunate for him to get a beating over it for he has been our best worker. One by one they were judged and their stories were heard. It ended with two of them being sentenced to {F1.40} five licks each with the ratan at five o’clock that afternoon as punishment. You could notice the change in their work after that. They were all on their toes and anxious to please. They don’t like the ratan. This excitement had just subsided when a Dyak canoe pulled up with Lieutenant Jordans and Matt. It was just eleven o’clock. It sure looked good to see Matt again and he was welcomed back by all with open arms. Leroux and the baggage and the rest of the outfit were to arrive later. We had an interesting chat with Matt who had an excellent trip with Leroux visiting with the Papuans. He obtained a good collection and much scientific data of value for they were the first people who ever visited this village. They had been gone eight days living with them six days and spending a day going and coming. Matt has kept a day by day account of his trip so it will not be necessary for me to relate any of the happenings here. It will be forthcoming in his diary. We celebrated his return by opening a bottle of wine. Leroux with his convoy returned about two o’clock, and everybody was back to camp again except the lost soldier who is still being hunted for by Dyaks. They have found no trace of him, however, for all the searching parties gummed up the trail so that it is practically impossible for them to trail him now. They are doing their best, however. For five o’clock in the afternoon the whipping show was scheduled and as we have never seen anything like that we watched the operations with some interest for in this day and age of civilization whipping a man at the post is not in vogue. A huge cross was erected immediately in back of our shack and the air was surcharged with some sort of electricity. You could notice it on the convicts especially. They were going to be invited guests to this affair and a great deal of staged scenery was necessary for their benefit. For some reason or other, I too had a peculiar feeling inside of me. I can’t explain it but it was there {F1.41} nevertheless. The convicts were assembled and the sergeant gave them a lecture. It was a formal affair. Dr. Hoffman with his medical assistant was also in attendance. The ratan whips were choosen [sic] by him and scientifically sterilized. That is regulation. The assistant stood by with gauze and a container of alcohol to clens [sic] the wound I presume. The Dyaks gathered as did the rest of the expedition members. The convicts had front seats and the ceremony evidently made a deep impression on them for they sat on their haunches with a sullen expression mixed with fear, on their faces. The two convicts were brought out. The one who had stolen the oil cloth from the soldier was the first. His hands were securely bound at the wrists and lifted straight above[;] his head was secured tightly to the upper part of the cross. A cloth was tied around the upper part of his body just below the arm pits and that was wound around the upright potion [sic] of the cross. Then another cloth was wrapped around and between his thighs and that too, fastened to the cross upright. He was tied so that he couldn’t move if he was so inclined. Then the charge and the sentence passed upon him was read by the sergeant. Lieutenant Jordans, Dr. Hoffman and Captain Posthumus stood close by witnessing the affair. Captain Posthumus had his sidearm fastened to his belt. He has been wearing it around the camp the last few days. An intense silence reigned the camp as the sun sank below the jungle clad border of the camp. It was a dull sunset with the bright firey [sic] red of the sunset was missing. [sic] It was in keeping with the cold silent grey atmosphere that prevailed. The convicts sat like statues. They were motionless. The expression on their faces were frozen solid, the only movement [in the] entire camp was the twitch of a leaf or two in the tallest trees stirred by a little gust of wind now and then. After the sentence was read[,] a native soldier, tall, straight and alert selected a strip of ratan from the many Dr. Hoffman had sterilized. He felt of it with one hand on either {F1.42} end. It bent in a half circle. He was testing the whip. The ratan was a quarter of an inch in diameter. The malay soldier poised it above his head. His form was similar to a discus thrower at a field meet. In grace and in movement. Then[,] like the discus thrower or the shot putter[,] he went through his form before striking. The form consisted of swinging the ratan whip over his head twice in a circular movement of the body and arms. On the third swing he carried through and the lash descended with a snap on the buttocks of the convict. He was clothed in his regular convict uniform of brown short pants. The coat was removed. Once, twice, three, four and five times the last [sic, = lash] whipped across the convict. He was motionless. His face was sullen but no evidence of great pain was visible. No sound came from his lips. The whipping was done, completed and like the trained athletic at a track meet, the whipper stepped aside waiting for the next event. The convict mandoer unfastened the arms and untied the cloth bindings, and the whipped convict was seated in front of Captain Posthumus as the second offender was brought to the cross. He went through the same routine. Both men were small and not as physically developed as some of the others. The charge and sentence was repeated by the Dutch army sergeant. The whipper with the same grace and elegance took his station and the five lashes were administered. The last convict evidently didn’t feel it as much as the other one for he walked quickly and with a rather pleasant expression on his face to where his companion was seated. It may be that he expected more and was pleased that it was all over. The first one, however, had a bad look in his eye and sat with lowered head in front of Posthumus. A few words were spoken in Dutch and the affair was over. Prince and Dick were furious and Dick had to walk away after the first few lashes were administered. Personaly [sic] I didn’t think that either one suffered much punishment although the formality and the binding them to the cross brought back memories {F1.43} of what we have read of the old slave galley days of long ago. From a punishment standpoint it left an impression on all of the convicts. I think that they toned it down on our account. Dr. Hoffman has told me accounts of whipping in Boreno [sic] which in the telling were more gruesome than this affair. And five licks with the ratan is an easy sentence, the harder ones ranging from 20 to 40 licks. They are building a stockade around the convicts[’] quarters and they will have to pass through a gate and by a sentry at night. That will keep them from escaping. Posthumus knows how to handle them and is doing the right thing I believe. One must not forget that these men are all murderers and thieves and are recruited from the jails of Java. And so we witnessed our first thrashing scene. There will be many more of them no doubt and like everything else we will become accustomed to it. There was some discussion during the evening meal relative to the merits of such punishment. Of course everybody had different opinions.