"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 9, 1926 : Albatross Camp (Base Camp) ; Mamberamo River


July 9th

This morning the river was higher than yesterday. About noon the canoe transport returned. Anji had a note from Hans and Prince saying that owing to the high water they had been unable to get the plane on a dry place and that as a consequence of the soaking the pontoons had gotten, there was no use in trying to use them again. They said that pontoons had not even a screw in them but were held together with glue and tacks. They added further that they did not see much chance of using the wheels. Certainly not until the water has dropped to its former low level, which it certainly shows no sign of doing at the present time.




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