86 Pengagl Creek Thursday, July 9. Max. 13.5, min. 9.0 C. The drizzling rain continued on into last night. This morning brought a variation in the foul weather -- valley filled with mist down to the ground. Some sunshine between 8 and 10, then overcast; light rain on and off (occasionally heavier) from noon through the day. Botanized to about 1/2 miles up the creek for a good bag including a very common big-fruited Elaeocarpus of the forest canopy (bark used for houses), a pretty white Clematis, a pubescent white-flowered Vaccinium previously found only at Kaindi, and several bright small orchids. Demkana's small son Thomas brought in a very desirable red Rhododendron with showy long tubular solitary red flowers which occurs sporadically as a high epiphyte on big trees in the forest and is called Ditin in Chimbu. Usually I discourage natives from bringing me botanical specimens; they nearly always bring common wayside species. But today, Thomas' tender age notwithstanding, I rewarded him with a stick of trade tobacco and a sheet of newspaper (which no doubt father will appropriate). Not a thing in the professional traplines last night; they have been moved today. From John's steel sets down the creek came another Parahydromys. Wak contributed a snared Pseudocheirus which might by mayeri. A short spell of sunshine after lunch encouraged me to get out my camera (which has been put away since the day we arrived in this camp) and set up to make close-ups of several orchid species which I have gathered during the past 10 days. Had half-forgotten how to use the extension tubes, and just as I got the first flowers (a fiery red Dendrobium carried down from Top Camp) in focus, down came the heaviest rain we have had in two days. Shot only one frame. Friday, July 10. Max. 16.5, min. 8 C. A little clear in early morning; high mackerel clouds. Overcast by about 10 a.m.; first light rain 1 p.m. thereafter drizzle and overcast broken by very brief glimpses of the sun; weather coming down valley in p.m.; it was up valley this morning. Expecting another morning of poor visibility, I botanized down Pengagl Creek. About 1/4 mile down I decided to investigate a patch of low forest on the left bank and found a small clearing almost overgrown, a good trail running parallel between Pengagl and Iubuka creeks, which are very close together there, and a pig house. Cut track the few yards to the Iubuka in two places. The banks are trackless and except in one place where a leaning tree high over the stream, and slender, had been used as a bridge, and at my end of the bridge a very strong trip snare had been set some little time back. Had enough plants by eleven and hurried back to camp in the hope that weather conditions were on the mend and that I would be able to make some close-up pictures before lunch. Made several, but under bad conditions. Am getting reasonably good insect catches at the light every night. Every brief spell of sunlight brings out the butterflies along the course of the creek and in the last two days I have taken at least 4 spp. new to the collection. Today, for the first time, small lizards (skinks) were observed on the rocks of the creek and several were caught. The jacking almost every night (every night fine enough) has yet to produce a mammal, but it has been productive of frogs of which over 100 have been taken at this camp. Van continues assiduously the taking of ectoparasites and blood smears of mammals. Estimates that he now has over 1000 ectos.