Kassam-Water Rice Had John drive me up the road to make more photos of the strange banana, which comes in about a mile from camp and extends about another mile to where the foothills begin to rise. Found in the savanna there a giant Amorphophallus in flower and beginning to release its foetid odor; photographed flower and leaf. Continued to c. 2000 ft. in the foothills to examine a patch of poor forest on a steep slope above a stream; found little to collect. Gathered material of a very common yam (Doiscorea) of the savannas. Found one of the characteristic savanna trees, Sarcocephalus (Neonauclea) cordatus, in flower and collected it. More abundant and of very different character with its sparse, open foliage is Albizzia procera as a savanna tree. The Sarcocephalus has big dark green leaves and makes a good shade. All the savanna I was in had been burnt about July and already the gresses -- Imperata and "cane grass" -- were waist to over head high. Kept as good a lookout as possible for death adders, said to be common in the area and to kill numbers of cattle at Gusap, some five miles farther up the valley. For sixty traps out last night, c. 1-1 1/2 miles up the road in bits of forest and along a stream in the savanna, Van had this a.m. a Hydromys, a Melomys new to the collection (apparently), and a Rattus-like leucopus. Tonight he has out another 90 traps. A pep talk from John got about 30 small boys and girls out after herps, but their hunt was stopped early by the rain. Sid Staines of Gusap and his one white stockman, Allan , called in late in the day. Staines manager of the Gusap cattle enterprise and a partner in it with Monty Atkinson of Cashmere and other cattle stations in North Queensland. Gusap established about 3 1/2 years ago by Staines. Stocking with cattle from Australia was made difficult by elaborate quarantine regulations in New Guinea. Between 300 and 400 brought in. Herd now 1100. Basic Zebu-Shorthorn cross; Santa Gertrudas being introduced through a bull and stud of grade cows. Cattle do well, despite a virtual absence of shade on the grass country. Breezes modify the climate and cattle can be worked at all seasons except in the intermediate period between the SE and NW, which we are in now. Rainfall at Gusap by Staines' records is about 85 inches, well distributed through the year. Principal grasses are kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) on the light soils, blady grass (Imperata cylindrica) on the heavy, black soils. Experimental introduction of grasses has not been successful so far except for a giant Guinea grass, which runs out the poor blady grass in open competition. Staines says that in coastal North Queensland Guinea grass and leguminous Centrsema for tropical pasture under high rainfall and will carry a beast to 1 1/2 acres. Worst cattle pest at Gusap is screwworm. Has a different leg-hair count from the screwworm fly of Florida and is thought to be a native species. Can be controlled under present conditions of Gusap by dieldrin spray -- about every five weeks in the dry season, 3 weeks in the wet. No cattle ticks, redwater fever or pleuro-pneumonia. Local natives found of little use at Gusap -- scared of horses and cattle. Only a few breeder stock sold so far. Driving of fat stock to Lae not practical -- distance 115 miles, much long grass, inferior native help. Staines thinks killing at Gusap of good quality beef, and air freighting from there will be the best proposition. Apparently principal owner Atkinson has other ideas on this and other things in connection with Gusap. Staines fed up and resigning; has sold out his interest. He and others trying to buy out Atkinson, for Staines sees a future in cattle at Gusap. Wednesday, November 11. Completely overcast day. No rain. Breeze from NW at times.