"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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September 10, 1926 : Head Camp (Lower & Upper) ; Rouffaer River


Friday
September 10
1926

It was lonesome here with the transport gone. Just four soldiers[,] Dick and I and Oompah[,] our boy[,] are holding the fort until the transport returns. One of the soldiers[,] on coming into the mosquitoe [sic] zone again got a touch of the fever and I gave him pills. We are low on pills so I hope no one else gets a bad attack of fever for then we are out of luck for we only have about ten left and that is just one day’s dose. The four convicts started overland early this morning to Head Camp carrying canvass [sic] rolls. They were unaccompanied and should reach upper Head Camp at five tonight. If they keep going, which they won’t for they have no one to urge them on. It will probably take them two days. I wish I had known about the pills for I could have asked Doc to send down some more but I thought we would be up with him ere this. High water tho stops everything here and one con’t [sic] do anything about it but wait. Dick went hunting and shot and wounded another crown pigeon but he got away before he could get to it. They run very quickly when on the ground. We still have turkey meat so we are living high and smacking our lips after every meal. The white meat is great. Dick likes the legs and I the White meat so everything is more than rosey [sic] although there is more than enough of both.




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