43 O'Sullivan has instructions to assist us in the event that we need help in getting carriers. On his projected patrol of the Daga country he proposes to climb Dayman by a native track leading up from Bibitan village, to the east, and be at the top about 14th May. We should be there by that time. If not, we will be at Bibitan waiting for carriers. Mail in this evening (10) letters for me). A letter from the Director of Agriculture, Port Moresby, referring to my conversations with Granger of that Dept., and saying it would "be appreciated if, in due course, you could provide me with a list of the animals and the birds, and all the materials for which you will require permits and clearances." This after the days I spent in conference with office johnnies in Port, and detailed statements on what we want to do and what we want to collect. Tuesday 4/14/53: Rain stopped after dark last night and resumed about five this morning. Some very heavy rain until noon. Spreadic showers later. Clear and starry now, (8:30). Practically no field work apart from running trap lines, which produced one mouse. The three of us finished organizing, collecting, gear and supplies for the top camp on Dayman. Food stuffs still have to be reckoned. Think we can do it HHHHH on less than 60 x 35 lb loads, which is well under my New York estimate of 70 x 40 lb loads. This all to the good. The steepness of the lower slopes of the mountain makes it advisable to reduce carrier loads to not more than 35 lbs. Some firing practice for the boys who are licensed to carry guns. Performance nothing to boast about. Odd jobs, such as getting in fire wood, putting in screw nails in boots, etc. Got mails away on the Government vessel "Managuna". (Missima language for SE wind.) which brought ADO Don Groves to Banira to try some cases. A couple of natives were caught stealing copra from the trade store, and selling it back to the trader. The sentence was two months apiece. Wednesday 4/15/53: After a doubtful -looking dawn, the weather cleared and the day has been sunny and fine with gentle SE breeze. Botanized along the coast to near Banapa village, a distance of about three miles. A large stream at the head of Arorasra Bay spanned by a high level log bridge with good approaches and wire cables for hand rails. Three other streams crossed on the usual low level log bridges (single log) without hand rails. Large trees collected in the rain forest-mangrove-strand forest transition zone: Banyan-like Ficus 21926, Pterocarpus indicus, Pomatia pinnata, and Syzygium 21931, all common to abundant. Someratia 21923, grew to a large size in the inner mangroves. Van, Geoff and their collecting boys, accompanied by Ken Wynn, made an all day excursion to the HHHH bat caves at Tapitapipi. Went by the "ruru" to Dabora, ( where the boat, enroute to Goodenough Island on a trading trip, broke down), and walked the six miles back along the coast. Some tired men in the party tonight. Geoff did not find a bottle shaped snake which is reputed to live in the cave.