Field Notes of Orek bi Łestkin, Amateur Ethnographer/Cache 3

17.IV.1660

FUCK

19.IV.1660

43 rifle rounds in clips and gun magazine

9 pistol rounds in the gun magazine

59 pistol rounds in two magazines—not compatible with my pistol, came from the Laq raider whose gun jammed

Third night sleeping in the Laq style, with waterproof half-tent over me and wrapped in blanket/cape. Hidden under brush.

20.IV.1660

Raider's gun still jammed. At first thought it was shoddy workmanship, looks like it is genuine IF make, no upkeep whatsoever

21.IV.1660

Rain

Hunger

22.IV.1660

Rain

23.IV.1660

Hole in waterproof layer, I think it's intentional. There's a strap that fits one of their leather canteens. The weight pulls a dimple into the waterproof layer, funnels fresh rainwater into the canteen

battery running low, lack of direct sunlight and night use is draining it

24.IV.1660

Writing date every day so I don't lose track of days since I no longer have my watch

Hungry

2.V.1660

Rabbits

41 rifle rounds left

Set up my half tent in a cluster of trees, was able to collect some berries to supplement the meat

Going through all my remaining possessions

Belt:

Ammo Pouch

Canteen Sack

Shovel

Knife sheath

Pistol Holster

Compass

Pack:

Mess Kit (spoon missing)

Butter Tin (empty)

Lighter (not much fuel left)

Towel

Straight Razor

Soap

Tooth brush

Rifle Cleaning Kit

Ammo Pouch

Shirts (2)

Socks — wool (3)

Trousers (spare)

Salvaged from Raider:

Leather canteen with strap

Curved Dagger with strap

Machine Pistol (jammed) with strap

Magazines for Machine Pistol (2)

blanket/cape

half tent

Scarfs (2)

Leather Boots

Fingerless Gloves — wool

rusty tin filled with a black goo

Weapons & Ammo:

Utility Knife

M1591

OAH 9mm

Lost boots, some clothes, food, books, batteries, GPS, solar charging panel, full tent, ammunition, maps, horses to the raiders

Shot my guide, took him with them

Was able to kill one of the raiders and ward the others off with what I had on / near me

Wearing Laqi boots, sized too large, stuffed them with rags torn from the Laq's clothes to make them tight

Wearing blanket wrapped around my upper body during the day until I can scrounge a field jacket that fits

3.V.1660

Hungry

don't want to waste ammo

reattempting to unjam and clean machine pistol

Nearing edge of forest, will remain inside perimeter until I can see a settlement, forest cover too useful

4.V.1660

Tear in left leg widening

no sewing kit

5.V.1660

village cut into the forest edge

palisade wall made from logs and small rocks

roofs are made of or covered with leafy branches

spaces between houses are covered with the Laqi waterproof fabric material they make their tents out of. From the air, it probably looks relatively flat and uninteresting

approached opening in the palisade wall with rifle held over my head

Man at the door pointed to the rifle and waved it over, so I handed it to him. My pistol remained on me

village has a large tented area in the center where a few homes meet. The man who took my rifle said something to another, who went inside the house to my right. An older man came out, wearing a leather apron and wiping his hands on a cloth

the man with my rifle lowered his chin, which I took to mean that I was to debase myself. The first that came to mind was the full earth-low bow, which I took effort with my sore legs. I was too tired to get back up, so I rocked into a sitting position and looked up to the older man, who then approached me

I asked if any spoke Praeta, then if they spoke the Istvanistani trade tongue. They looked at me in confusion.

The Old Man said smth smth metal, pointed to self. He pointed to the man with my rifle, smth smth trees, pointed to other men and women nearby, also smth smth trees. He then pointed to me and asked a question.

Said I am a former army officer here to explore and understand their life habits. Confusion from them. I made sign symbols for GUN, OFFICER, BEFORE, NOW, LEARNING, HERE, I.

An adolescent shouted something, anger on the faces of others

Repeated BEFORE NOW LEARNING I. LEARNING I.

Another shouted something. Sighs, less anger.

The old man offered his hand, which I took. He did not shake my hand or lift me up, but we held hands. He spoke to me with a softer voice. The others stopped shouting, some murmured one to another.

old man said about food, I nodded and said fayah, their word for "please"?

something about sleep, I nodded and "please"

something about trees ?

old man pointed to the man who took my rifle, something about being safe and my gun. That man then walked back towards the village entrance.

old man reached out with his other hand and lifted me to my feet. He issued instructions and pushed me towards some of the adolescents. One of them waved to me. I followed and was led to a room in one of the homes with many baskets storing different things

Tired, hungry, now laying wrapped in blanket

Villager came to offer me a piece of stale bread. Black goo is smeared on it. The villager gestured to her mouth and told me to eat. I ate

The goo is salty

woman, late reproductive years?

Waked during evening, offered a bowl of soup

different villager, also woman, older

Soup is meat with unrecognizable vegetables

6.V.1660

Waked, late morning

sound of rain against roof

changed to ~~fresh clothes

keeping pistol and knife on belt

My room is partially dug into a shallow-sloping hill

possible safe room?

feet ache, leave socks, boots off

feet don't look good

part of the tent covering the central square is pulled open, fireplace being maintained below. A group of older and younger women are cooking food. On a flat, polished stone in the fire, one spreads a runny dough into circles, flips it over after a few minutes ——— makes a basic flat bread

a boy is sent to me by an older villager, he pulls  at my     elbow

7.V.1660 / 8.V.1660 / 9.V.1660 / 10.V.1660

I, sa You, wa He, mwar She, mir We, ta You (pl), shwa They, aahar Here, dzhim There, ash Who, sidaa What, sidaa Where, tida When, cidirv How, cidaw shtaw All, zacha Many, baw Some, qaum Few, machaw

1, zir 2, tewr 3, shir 4, plir 5, tfir Big, chashwa Long, chihha Wide, shwaambra Thick, pshari Heavy, wantarew Small, tsikew Short, chakwa Narrow, zazhwi Thin, psira Woman, bzilfir Man, hhwelfir Child, sabi Wife, shewz Husband, li

Bird, bzew Dog, hha Snake, bla Tree, chigi Forest, mazi Stick, Bash Leaf, thaap Flower, qarar Rope, chaapsa Skin, chishew Meat, li == man? Bone, qewpsha Tail, cha Hair, tsi Head, shha Ear, taqewm Eye, na Nose, pa Mouth, zha

Tooth, tsa Tongue, bzagew Foot, lagew Leg, laakwa Hand, la Belly, niba Neck, psha Back, qib Breast, bra ==misunderstanding?  Laqs don't seem to To Drink, eshwan               wear bras habitually To Eat, shhan shhin ? To Breathe, chashan To Laugh, dahhaashhin related to eat? To See, larwin To Hear, shan To Die, lan To Kill, wawchin To Hit, wetawan To Sit, shas    these two don't seem To Stand, shat  to work like the other verbs

Children seem to find it amusing that I don't know their language

One of the older ones said they call me "Chwimaan"

Something about lacking a brain, by her gestures