156 Umi River Sid Staines called in about 5 p.m. with fresh meat and mails for us. Returning from Lae with a native riding one horse and leading another. Horses were to cross at the Umi Ford, where the Umi joins the Markham. Arrangements disorganized by the heavy rain and rise in the river. Sid still driving the road at 9:30, trying to learn whether his horses and boy had crossed safely or been washed away. Thursday, November 19. Rather pleasant, sunny day with high of 88 F. in camp. Light rain from a thunderstorm, beginning about 4:30 and continuing late into the night. Botanized more than a mile up N branch of the Umi in mostly second growth forest close to the river. A few more mosses added to the collection (now over 400 bryophytes). Several trees included a fine Macaranga with great 3-lobed leaves up to c. 60 x 70 cm, forming heavy shade on the low bank of the river. Local natives out bat hunting brought in over 20 adult Dobsonia and nearly as many young ones from a hollow nursery tree which they cut down back in the hills. Nothing in traps. One Nyctimene (new for the camp) in nets, one Hippo- sideros diadema shot at the north bridge this evening. This new for the trip and perhaps one of the very few shot, or seen, in open flight. Met up the trail this morning Frank Harris, Patrol Officer of Kaiapit, on a tax collecting visit to a village about an hour's walk up from the bridge. Personable man in his 30's, brunette, efficient looking, probably of senior PO rank. Had party of two armed police, medical orderly, 16 carriers, and about half dozen other natives. He spoke of a tree-climbing kangaroo, from the mountains behind Kaiapit, recently bought from natives and kept as a pet at his home. Friday, November 20. Sunny morning, not too hot; afternoon mostly overcast; light rain from a thunderstorm began about 5:30 p.m. At 9:10 last night we had a severe earth tremor (guria), followed by a slight one in a few minutes, and another slight one about 20 minutes later. Our hanging Coleman lamp swung about 1/5th of an arc. Heard today that the tremor was more severe at Kaiapit, lasted a timed 4 minutes, and broke half the crockery of the kiap's wife. John drove to Kaiapit this morning to get cargo expected béy air from Lae. Dropped me on the road where the north branch of the Umi issues from its gorge, near the 6-house hamlet of Waterbung (pidgin for junction of the waters). Got a fair bag of plants containing nothing very interesting except a violet-flowered Boea growing on moist, half shaded rocks. I had ordered a drum of flour, 25 lbs. sugar, and a can of Mortein (flydope) by letter delivered to Martin, manager of Buntings, by Staines Monday morning. Asked that the supplies be sent by first plane -- this was Tuesday and I said so in the letter. There was another plane from Lae this morning. But no cargo for us. Martin, unbelievably incompetent, was the man who loused up the delivery of our cargo from New York at the beginning of the trip. We can't spare the petrol for more 30-some-mile round trips to Kaiapit. John was able to borrow enough sugar and 5 pounds of flour from Harris in Kaiapit. We will have rice to eat when our flour runs out.