CHAPTER XII 



THE WAR CHANGES MY PLANS — CHOLERA — UP THE GREAT 



BARITO RIVER PURUK TJAHU DECIDE TO STAY 



AMONG THE MURUNGS — ^A DANCING FEAST 



In the beginning of July I returned to Bandjermasin, 

 where I packed my collections and despatched them to 

 Europe. I decided to send what goods I had, with my 

 two assistants, to Macassar on Celebes, where the Dayaks 

 who were to take part in the New Guinea undertaking 

 would also be transported. It might be possible for 

 Chonggat to do some collecting in the neighbourhood of 

 the town. At all events, it would be more convenient 

 to have them wait for me there than to take them to 

 Java. Having secured passes from the resident for the 

 two men, and given them recommendations to the Nor- 

 wegian consul in Macassar, I departed for Batavia to take 

 the last steps in fitting out my expedition to New Guinea. 



At this stage of my proceedings the war broke out. 

 On August 6 I had an audience of the Governor-General, 

 who informed me that he was then unable to let me have 

 either soldiers or ship for my explorations. The day be- 

 fore he had recalled his own great expedition on the 

 Mamberamo in Northern New Guinea, and advised me to 

 wait for a more favourable opportunity, promising that 

 he would later give me all assistance. The commanding 

 general was equally agreeable. As I had never been 

 in British India I decided to go there while awaiting de- 

 velopments regarding the war, so the following Saturday 



107 



