-89- Monday, July 20, 1953: Max 27, Min. 17 C. Dull day turning rainy (light) about 2 P.M. and clearing in early evening. Reddish sunset. Collected west of camp some 1/2 to 3/4 mile where a fair-sized rocky creek plunges down the mountainside. Nothing of special interest on the stream. The prizes for the morning were five very small species of saprophytes growing on deep raw humus in the denser shade of the rain forest; one species each of Burmannia, Corsia, Sciaphila, orchidaceae, and a whitish plant which I can not place. All species found localized on about 50 yards of narrow ridges. Van der Pijl observed that usually two (or more) species of saprophytes were found to- gether in Malaysia. But never have I seen such an assemblage as that found today. Our first mail from home since July 2 arrived late in the afternoon. In the bag were 3 kodachrome films which we had sent to Melbourne for a trial of Kodak processing in Australia. As in 1948, the results were not satisfactory. Frames uniformly too dark; some stained with chemicals. We made a special request that the frames be numbered consecutively. It was done with pen and ink. Learned from Buntings that mails we sent from the mountain May 24 and June 25, arrived together in Samarai about July 4! Our camp lights at #2 Camp have been seen by vessels crossing Collingwood Bay at night. And from Peter O'Sullivan we have the lowdown on what can be done about the theft of a case of our meat by natives at Kwagira. If the value of the stolen property is under £5, trial can be made in magistrate's court at Baniara. For that, one of us would have to spend at least 10 days walking to and from Baniara, and a government boat would have to bring an A.D.O. from Samarai for the trial. (O'Sullivan, in charge of a sub-district, ranks as Patrol Officer and does not have magisterial powers). If value of property is over £5 (it is £9-/10) the case must go to the Supreme Court and await the arrival of a judge on circuit. In our situation, legal action is out of the question. The processes of law are too cumbersome and time-consuming. If Peter wished, he could swing the weight of government authority and at least convince the culprits that property can not be taken with impunity. I have suggested to him that some kind of action, not leading to Supreme Court proceedings, is indicated if the prestige of Europeans in this area is to be upheld. Tuesday, July 21, 1953: Max 24.5, Min. 15 C. Rosy dawn, and the sunniest day we have had at this camp, but still generally overcast. No rain. Stars shining through high, broken clouds tonight (8:30). A fire burning on a strip of grass- land down near the coast. Probably natives making a wallaby drive. Ken went down to Biniguni and sent up a couple of locals with some meat and rice to see us through this camp. Sent down a box of mammal skins and numerous cases of surplus beef dripping which we have been carrying on the mountain for two months. Sent my boys to cut a sample of the dominant oak (Quercus sp.) of the forests just above us and collect anything else they could find while I caught up with the preparation of materials on hand. Am collecting more than I can well handle. Van's total take from traps was one marsupial cat. My boys brought in a bandicoot which they had caught in the forest. A tough camp for the mammal man.