The Harvard African Expedition Book 1: August 5, 1926
Creator
Loring WhitmanDate
8/5/26Transcription
Thurs Aug 5th
At 600 Dr. Allen, Bequaert, Hal and I started out in the rain to go for a trip on the river. One of the whale boats was tied up and Mr. Powers offered us its service. However, after we had walked about a mile across the clearing in the wet we found that powers had not shown up and that the headman would not go without direct notice from him. When we sent up to power’s bungalow we found that he had gone out. And so we were unable to go. In the meantime Drs. Strong & Shattuck showed up on their way to visit some villages across the river, so Hal & they went across while Bequaert Allen & I returned. On the way back I shot six birds of different varieties – 2 males & 1 female weaver birds – a barbit – a sandpiper and a primia (reed warbler). When we got back (In the afternoon I tried some chameleon pictures but it was very slow motion) to camp Dr. Allen started skinning them, so I joined him and prepared my first birds skin. My fingers seemed all thumbs but after an extremely long time I finished him and had a fairly respectable specimen. After lunch I took a nap till 300 when Hal returned with two plantain eaters and some more small birds. I prepared a couple of more specimens. I then went out in hopes of getting some more birds but I was unsuccessful. After supper I again developed – this time movies for a change. So far so good and no particular troubles.