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When the photographs were finished - movies and color pictures were also taken - Bill, Dr. Coenraad and I went for a long walk. Bill found many insects to interest him, and the two boys who went with us tried to help by picking up occasional spiders and caterpillars, or really did help by climbing trees to bring down termite nests. We saw two gorgeous green birds in a palm tree - neither Bill nor Dr. C. knew what they were. One curious thing we found was a little pile of undigested ant heads in the middle of the path - evidently a pangolin ^[[(scaly ant eater]] had passed that way the night before.

During the afternoon Dr. Coenraad tried again to work up the Rajah's interest in animal catching. Some boys brought in two cages of birds, and Dr. Williams protested when the cages were hung on poles directly over his cot. Another boy brought in a big lizard, and he was encased in a length of bamboo and I protested when he was put under the head of my bed.

In the evening Mrs. Coenraad brought out a notebook, and by asking numerous questions of the Rajah, through the interpreter, added to her store of knowledge concerning Batak customs. On the wall over the Rajah's head were a number of photographs, mostly of himself and his soldiers, but one was of his father, the old Rajah, who still lies in state in the women's quarters of the house. He has been dead for fourteen years, but the kampong has not yet enough money to bury him in state.

We rolled up in our blankets and went early to sleep.

March 18 - 

We were up before daylight, made coffee, and packed our belongings. When the house had been cleared of all our camping gear, we were asked to sit on the Rajah's bench for a farewell ceremony. Three of his wives came in and sat on the floor in front of us. First we were presented with betel nut wrapped in sir^[[eh]] leaves, and on this we made [[strikethrough]] of [[/strikethrough]] pretense to nibble. Then the head wife gave Mrs. Coenraad and me a piece of handwoven cloth, which we folded and placed on our heads Batak style. Rice was thrown over us, and cries of Horas were shouted enthusiastically. Two bowls of eggs were then given to us as food for the journey, but this was symbolical, and after taking them we politely handed them back. It was a kindly and interesting ceremony, and I felt that although we had undoubtedly been great nuisances the Rajah did not feel too unfriendly toward us. He must have been glad to see us go, and to have his own house free for himself again.

Bulbuls sang to us all the way back through the woods. We made the way back, which was mostly up-hill, in two and a half hours, and were glad to see that the motor bus, waiting for us, had come nearly a mile down the trail to meet us. [[strikethrough]] When [[/strikethrough]] We got back to the hotel about one o'clock, and were glad to have a bath, a change of clothes and a good dinner.

March 19 - Siantar

Early in the morning Bill got a cable from Jennifer and Davis that they would land to-morrow in Belawan, and that all the animals they were bringing were still alive. He hastily commandeered a car and went to Medan to meet them. Mrs. Coenraad and I spent the day together, and I had lunch, tea and dinner at their house. We looked over the hospital that we expect to move into next week, and went shopping for sheets, towels, mattresses, etc.