Alan_and_Nance_Hooper-1941

49th Battn. Details, Port Moresby, Papaua, 3rd Jany

My darling Nancy, I'm terribly sorry about last weeks mail. We were warned concerning a 100 % censorship, but I didn't dream it would be withheld. Judging by you fears in you letter, I suspect you can put 2 & 2 together. Each of us hope for some excitement - we are so bored at engineering. Your love seems more profound than ever - it soothes my vanity. Love can exist only through faith - that's why I love you more, Nancy. I'll admit that the rami wouldn't flatter you hips, but they sway so romantically when worn barefooted. Honey, its not wise of you to even dream of joining me here. Surely that which you friends have told you of is enought to deter you. Ihave to admit my health hasn't been all that I have said it to be. The main thing is that I'm quite well now, but its

[THIS PAGE HAS BEEN TRANSCRIBED BY STATE LIBRARY OF QUEENSLAND STAFF AS AN EXAMPLE]

49th Battn Details, Port Moresby, Papua. 1/41.

My Darling Beloved,

I can almost say that I'm having or rather enjoying a week's holiday - on outpost Nev [Neville] No 1 & 2, & Don Sweitzer are my companions so I'm blessed with congenial company. As per usual we have not been without adventure & thrills.

Last Saturday morning, we awoke (in camp) to find threatening weather. At dawn a terrific guba blew up & the journey called off. However, we set out after lunch when the weather cleared. Twice our truck bogged to the axles, but it only added to the fun. The climb up Maata had me beaten for the first time, although my equipment weighed 70 lbs. The grade is almost as steep as that cliff at Noosa (the one we quarrelled on.) I was thrilled to bits when I first saw our new grass-hut. — it's a work of art. It makes me feel almost native, living in it. Except for a few nails, it is bound together by bamboo & grass. The planked floor is spaced for coolness, while the nestling of the wind on the roof sound like cooling rain. The hut is built just below the rest-line & on a steep slope in a

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seemingly precarious position. The first night I went to bed at 2 a.m. having drawn for first guard duty. My sleep didn't last long however. Around 3 a.m. the boys aroused me. They had no need to explain why; a guba had suddenly sprung up again, & the hut rocked crazily. The roar was like hell itself let loose, & I thought of the long drop below. Trees crashed close by, but none all were below, thank goodness. Once, I tried to go outside for safety but a strong gust blew me over & I gave up the idea, so for two hours we hid our fears & waited. When daylight broke, the wind suddenly dropped so I slung the binoculars & went to the lookout. [Pau?] Village hadn't escaped damage. A number of rumas (huts) hadbeen unroofed & two flattened. Other damage only amounted to the loss of palm-trees & the swamping of canoes. Nev prepared an amazing breakfast of pineapple, beef fritters & fried bread. I had made up my mind to attend another church service so there I went. Arriving somewhat early I called at the missionaries ruma. I was surprised at their intellect & they spoke perfect English. Ana, the daughther, new less than her brother, so I spoke to her in Motu. They all beamed & inquired who'd taught me. Their hut was cleanliness itself. (I tidied ours

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up as soon as I went back) Before the service the old man handed me a native hymn book & Bible - I felt really honoured. Streams of young kekeni & tatau (men) converged from the rows of huts; the sight was particularly colourful. The men with their clean white dabuas, & the women their vari-coloured ramis. The preacher quoted a hymn number & the chorus began. I'll confuss there wasn't many words I could understand but I knew their pronunciation well. I sang every hymn, much to their surprise, & became the cynosure of their attention. I wished I could have faded away right then, as I'm sure I was embarrassing the preacher. Looking around occasionally I couldn't help but feel amused. The kekenis, with the expertness of a siren, began to pase [?]. As native beauty goes, they win, hands down, & were I an artist interested in Melanysians, I'd be interested.

After the service I used a little diplomacy, & was given the promise we'd be kept supplied with fish, fruits & wood. (very few natives like climbing the hill even when well paid)

Monday. Another eventful night has passed. The roof sagged & bellied like a pair of bellows, and it became necessary to anchor it to the floor with guy-ropes. This being the third successive

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guba, we felt slightly bored & I risked going to sleep. It was a case of Rock-a-bye baby, though. A host of native boys came quite early with a weeks worth supply of firewood & we paid them off with a dozen army biscuits (I'm sure they were intended for roofing tiles, or as a puppies biscuit) I tried my hand at cooking the dinner & was more than pleased with the result. Mashed potatoes & treacle scones constituted the menu. After tea I was taught to play euchre - talk of beginners luck - I had it all. My partner & I won 2-1. Two or three crocodiles started a barking competition below in the swamp & we feel well away from civilisation. For contrast we listened on an apology of a wireless & kept on playing until 11pm.

Tuesday:- I suffered a rousing-on this morning for sleeping-in. Nev woke me with "Come & get it, or we'll chuck it out" & I had to threaten him with a charge of 'insubordination while on active service.' We made quite a joke of it though we looked 'fair dinkum.' The Missionary sent us a string of beautiful fish from which we made our dinner. The sunset was particularly glorius & I hastened up top with the camera. Later on Nev said he had taken a movie of me, silhouetted