"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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July 3, 1926 : Albatross Camp (Base Camp) ; Mamberamo River


July 3rd

A quiet day spent largely in writing letters. Dick and I visited the Dyak house for quite a while in the afternoon. We copied a number of Dyak carved designs and a Dyak carved the handle of Dick's [.]45. They make bamboo, tobacco and fire cases by carving the design deeply then filling in the carved part with tar which is then rubbed off smooth with the original surface by using a stone and cold water. Ujan was making a fine one for his bride in Borneo.




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