26 Oomsis A Syconycteris in one of the 3 bat nets. An old, distinguished looking local (Gabensis) native named Zenag, brought along by Lionel Baker before breakfast, and given 3 #4 cartridges by Van, brought in, late in the day a good Phalanger - maculatus of very pale color, shot with one cartridge. Our camp icebox is not functioning very well. When Van took out the Telefomin Zaglossus for skinning this morning, it stank. Fortunately,the specimen was well wrapped while in with our fresh meat and butter. John and I collected 27 butterflies, and sundry other insects during the day. Geckoes on the screens quickly snap up anything that comes to the light. Had tracks into the forest opened up. Sunday, April 12. Steady, light rain fell through most of the night after about 10 PM. Today overcast; very little sun; an occasional light shower. It threatens to rain again tonight. Was surprised when, soon after our 7 o'clock breakfast, Lionel Baker, manager and part owner of Gabensis Plantation, 2 miles down the road, walked in, spick and span in the shorts that most men wear here, on what he described as a regular Sunday morning stroll. We got to talking about this locality. His place is close to Oomsis village and also on Oomsis Creek, but for the psycho- logical reason that Oomsis Prison Camp is nearby, he called the plantation Gabensis, though the village and creek of that name are two miles up.the road from us. Lionel estimates our altitude at not much more than 250 ft. The present weather, says Lionel, is unseasonal. We are just within the reversed season area of the head of the Huon Gulf, of which Lae is about the center. The wettest season in this area is in the SE season, c. June through September, and during this season practically all rain falls during the day and nights are clear. The reverse applies to the NW season, when nearly all rain is during the night (Nov.-Dec. through March or into April). Our present rain is from up valley, or NW. Lionel spoke of two wet seasons (as in parts of Africa). This is a matter for inquiry. Finished today the correction of my galley proof. Took out of the driers my collection of last weekend, about 4/5 dry after 3 days in John Womersley's hot box. Only one small Rattus exulans in traps this AM. Rain this evening pre- vented bat shooting, also jacking. Gabensis natives, from up the road, appeared this morning with a Phalanger maculatus male skin, minus felt, tail and head and stuffed as a pillow, for which they asked #2. As night fell another Gabensis man came through the rain with some sort of Python, perhaps 6-8 ft. long, for which he asked #5. No business. This morning our #2 cook, Sila of Fife Bay in Papua, came to me with a story that he has a store job to go to in Goroka and wants to finish with us. Obviously lying, for there had been no way for him to get a letter since we moved out of Lae. Kim, #1 cook, says the other boy does not like the bush. So here goes the second #2 cook in about a week.