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crystal clear, very shallow, and simply black with small fish. When we scraped bottom, it was evident that we would have to wade ashore, and I began to take off my shoes. However, the two boatmen leaped overboard and made a chair of their four hands, in which they gallantly carried me ashore.

A truck was waiting for our animal cargo, and with much delay, and much handling, and much effort to keep the curious and excited natives away from our still-wild Maleos, we finally got away. Animals and baggage went on the truck, we had a five passenger car which was pretty crowded, as Mrs. Buitenbos had come to meet her husband, Dr. Poetiray was going to Ambon to see a patient, the cockatoo on a perch hung from the roof of the car, and cameras and typewriter were on the floor.
 
We reached the Esplanade Hotel about four o'clock, after parking our enagerie at Buitenbos' house. ^[[J]]ust as we got in the heavens simply opened, and rain came down so violently that we couldn't even speak to each other and be heard. The Van Imhoff with Dr. Coenraad aboard was due in at five and we had intended to go down and meet him, but it was out of the question. About six-thirty he managed to get up to the hotel, and sayed to have dinner with us. 

He has been to northern New Guinea and back, and brought, to our amazement and delight, thirty birds of Paradise of six species, twelve crowned pigeons, two vulterine parrots, a number of cockatoos and lories,two wild pigs and two kangaroos - a magnificent collection considering the short time that he had.

May 4- On board S. S. Van Imhoff

We were up early, and down to the dock to see our cargo loaded. All the animals had to be listed for the customs office and K. P. M. freight office, - even a bamboo basket of turtles had to be untied and each specimen counted. Our animals were put with Coenraad's collection between decks, and the cages make quite a display when they are all lined up.

We sailed at ten o'clock - quite a gay sailing, for a bamboo-flute orchestra and a church choir were on the pier to give a departing missionary a good send-off. The two musical organizations were rivals, and tried to drown each other out, one singing and the other blowing at the same time. I made a special request for the orchestra to play Kole Kole, which they did. We were sorry to say good-bye to Buitenbos, who has been as entertaining as he has been helpful.

May 5 - At sea

Bill and Coenraad spend most of their time below decks with the animals. At table it is a joke to see how many bananas and papayas we can cadge for our birds and for the cuscus. One maleo died, but everything else seems to be doing nicely.

Transcription Notes:
Edited for consistency with rest of project.