130 A COLLECTING TRIP 
With much love to every one and especially to 
yourself, 
Most affectionately, 
Ros. 
You cannot imagine what a state we will be in 
before we get to Java again, seven weeks without get- 
ting any washing done. Katherina and I do a little 
in our hand basins, but that is little at best. My old 
white muslin with the blue spot is just the thing, like- 
wise the silk waists and two old Kakhi skirts. I have 
got along so far on two white silk waists since I left 
Brookline. 
Ambon, Amboina, March 7, 1907. 
Dear Freddie : 
Here we are practically back from the trip and 
we have had such a time. In every way it has been 
most successful and so interesting. I wish you could 
have been with us and seen the people. Wild and 
woolly does not begin to express what they are. Our 
photographs are top notch and I do hope that nothing 
will happen to them. At many of the places I was the 
only white woman that had ever been seen. Many of 
the natives seemed quite delighted; they patted me 
on the back and grinned and kept saying ‘‘bagus,’’ 
which in Malay means beautiful. They admired my 
silver watch and chain and were crazy for me to give 
it to them. Now to tell you how they look and live. 
Fifty or more live together in a big hut made of palm 
leaves and wood, about two or three hundred feet 
from shore. We often went inside of these houses and 
it was very interesting, although a trifle scary. All 
the Papuans (men) carried huge knives in their hands 
