September 17

This morning I shaved off my beard considerably to the edification of the natives who were keenly interested in the use of a mirror in conjunction with the shaving process. They contrived to view it from all angles and a hot discussion waged among them as long as the operation continued. Shortly before noon Saleh arrived in camp with two convicts. One Dyak was with him and became sick at the last camp, so leaving a convict with him, Saleh came on with the other two. Our two Dyaks were sent back to him at noon. We had quite a talk this evening with Igoon and the head man of Agintawa. They say there is a trail going farther inside where the snow mountains can be seen. Igoon has seen them himself. However there are more people inside of warlike disposition {p. 256} and Igoon has twice been shot with their arrows, he exhibiting the scars of these encounters. Word has been sent to the people of a village west of Agintawa to come here and bring a pig. Their pigs are not black says Igoon, but white. Men from Agintawa will come also and there will be a big feast. Tonight Jordans and I, improving on Lucullus, for the 2nd night in succession had a bird of paradise for supper. They are not bad eating, tasting something like quail.