"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 12, 1926 : Head Camp (Lower & Upper) ; Rouffaer River


Sunday
September 12
1926

The water has been low since the transport departed so that they should be here tonight. It will probably bring the mail which arrived on the Swallow August 23rd altho there is a possibility of it missing the last Motor transport from Batavia Camp. Hope not for we are out of reading and not much to do here. We had two books and an aviation [magazine] but have read and reread them all the first few days. At three thirty the canoes appeared around the bend. No mail except a note from Prince. He had a special note of considerable interest which is filed with the records. The no mail from the outside world was a blow. It will be a week more before we can get it. The transport up made the trip in (motor) six days and the returning motor left Monday[,] the Corporal reported. It is due in M.C. Wednesday September fifteenth and the next transport here will bring the mail, news and papers. That will be a long wait especially when we had rather expected it this trip. The transport will continue on tomorrow with the food and the load they brought up this time and come back for us tomorrow. We have added Kangaroo to our menu and it is just like lamb. The soldiers shot a female carry{F3.75} ing a youngster and Dick has taken charge of the infant and is feeding and mothering it [See photos, A012 & A014]. It hasn’t its eyes open yet and can’t be more than a week old. He had improvised a nipple for it and it is now being fed Libby’s milk. It is a [sic] very weak though and [it] is doubtful if it will pull through. Dick though is giving it every care and attention getting up in the middle of the night to feed it.




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