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a sky that had turned golden when the rain ceased. A wide rainbow stretched from horizon to horizon, and as dark fell the night was clear and cool. 

Mr. J. H. Gauns, a former animal dealer, came in from his plantation and we talked with him until quite late. We had hoped he would offer to collect for us, but he said he was out of the animal business now. There is a curious jealousy among Dutchmen out here: he had read in the paper that Dr. Coenraad went with us to New Guinea, Coenraad had written him asking him for animals some months ago, but Van Gauns assumed the animals were for us, and would make no effort to get anything. Had we come to him first, things might have been different. But we had not heard his name until a few days ago - Coenraad had never mentioned him to us. A curious world. One would think that colonials, so far from home, would be more kindly to each other. 

June 24 -

We had made an appointment with another animal dealer to have lunch with him in Kuala Simpang. Ordinarily it should have been an easy drive for a morning, over straight roads, but everything that could happen to delay us,did. We lost Beirne's collecting box off the back of the car and had to go back for it. Some of the machinery fell out of the bottom of the car, and Remy had to climb under the Buick and hammer it together again. As a last straw we ran out of gas -  fortunately near a small village where Remy was able to buy four liters, enough to get to Langsa with. From the hotel at Langsa we telephoned that we had been delayed, and for the cool at the Boulevard Hotel to start nasi goreng for us. We arrived at 1.30 - our guests had been waiting since 12. 

They were W.T. Ruppert and his son. The old man, a bearded, bespectacled German, has caught many of the big orangs now in cpativity, and has reputation as a great hunter. He knew no English, but his son knew a little, and we carried on a weird three-cornered conversation in English and our bad German, with Malay names for animals. Trying to do any business with old Ruppert was difficult, for he refused to put prices on this animals, saying that they were too difficult to catch, and quoting fabulous prices that had been paid in Europe for animals. The only deal we made was to pay him 20 guilders a pair for tupai - a fantastic price, but we haven't been able to get any so far. He is to bring the big orang to Siantar next month. It was captured for Fort de Kock, but the Zoo there, with the permission of the government, is letting us have it.  

We paid another call later in the afternoon, on Mr. Van Greuter in Besitang. He is an old gentleman, living in obviously reduced circumstances, who has always been fond of animals and had a small collection of his own. In spite of the poverty of his establishment he still has a tame leopard, a dozen monkeys, several birds, a baby musang, and two beautiful tame otters. He let them out of their cage, and they ran about the place like dogs, squeaking with excitement, letting anyone pet them, begging for food under the dining room window, and completely winning out hearts. As we were leaving Bill said "You wouldn't sell your otters, would you?" and Van Greuter said "No." To which Bill could only say, "I don't blame you."