"By Aeroplane to Pygmyland" Accounts of the 1926 Smithsonian-Dutch Expedition to New Guinea

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Journal of Matthew Stirling
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May 23, 1926 : Albatross Camp (Base Camp) ; Mamberamo River


May 23rd

This morning the Albatross finished unloading her cargo and we sent on board the last mail we will be able to {p. 82} send for two months when she is scheduled to return. Today being Sunday, a holiday was enjoyed by all hands. It was a beautiful day with clear blue sky, all day; warm but not too hot and for some reason felt like Sunday, the first time I have noticed it since coming to the Indies. Prince and Hans spent a busy afternoon soldering tin lids for the Dyaks, for their supply cans which they will bring with them when they go up river. They have also soldered a new rim all around the radiator of the plane so that it should cause no trouble from leakage. The river has stopped falling and has risen a little again the last day or two. The Dyaks have finished our floating bath house on the river in front of camp and it is now the most elaborately ornamented structure in camp. Prince clipped Stanley's hair today so that now we are all displaying the same nude crania.




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