"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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July 22, 1926 : Rouffaer River


Thursday
July 22
1926

I didn[’]t waken a moment until Leroux[’s] cheery voice greeted us with a good morn[ing]. It was just daybreak. We had our usual breakfast [–] Coffee and oatmeal, packed and were off. As we were doing this our Papuan friends appeared coming up the river on the opposite shore. They [sic] were 8 of them and they shouted to us. They poled their canoe along slowly[,] one man in front and one in the rear. They certainly do not know how to handle a canoe very well. Leroux shouted that they would have to hurry if they wanted knives but they poled along just the same. They shouted and yelled but we had finished loading and were off and soon left them behind. In getting into the motor {F2.25} boat I slipped from the side and went into the water above my knees. It seems as tho I must get wet. The sun was out and I soon dried. We made rather good progress against the stream and passed several Papuan houses but no people were in evidence. The sun was out brite and it appeared as tho we would have a warm day. One more nite and half a day and we are at our destination if all goes well. We pass real close to a Papuan house as I write. One large house covered with palm leaves is close to the water. It has two floors. Behind it several yards are two smaller ones. Nobody is in sight altho it has the appearance of being inhabited. They are probably hiding in the jungles and peering at us as we go by. The sun goes behind a cloud and stays for some time. The heat of the motor boat exhaust has dried me out completely and I am about to enjoy the scenery in company with a good pipeful (Dumbill [sic, = Dunhill] of course) of Prince Albert tobacco. Becker likes P.A. very much and is very appreciative when I give him a pipeful. He says the D. [Dutch] tobacco is too strong.




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