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dispensary; visit to Majuron |
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(121) Thursday, Jan. 12th. |
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Again daybreak, Abung and dispensary. The Chirus are having a genna, and the village is closed for two days, so pressure of patients had eased off a bit. Meant to go up to Majuron, but got held up, what with babies (the bad case again, bleeding this time and looking an awful mess) and presentations of spears and baskets by the headman. A lovely spear, and a handsome basket, though not the kind I wanted! I sent a man down to buy some cigarettes, whereupon a coolie and lumbu turned up from Jeff, with fresh vegetables, a note, Elliman's, bandages, and two letters - one a card from Parkes, of all people, from Johannesburg, the other from Kodaks, to say my Kodachrome had gone home as per instructions; and 2000 cigarettes! My coolie had just weighed in with 570, for Rs 2/-. Sent back a chit to Jeff. |
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Went up to see the Majuron man's house. Light wrong for photography, and (122) he rather hurt at my not coming earlier. Endeavoured to soothe him by praising his house, and went round the village which is really filthy. Big bachelors' house, detached from main village; no main street, houses all anyhow, but mainly facing south, like Kakadan, though the painted house commands a fine view to the east. Promised to come back after dispensary in the morning. |
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The baby again. Tightened bandage and sent it away till to-morrow. The ordeal is too much. |
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Found one of the little Kabui funnies is Lame Dog's son. His mother died while he was still tiny, and they reared him on zu. Two years after she died, or less, the father crippled himself for life - caught his foot with a spade. |
