-58- Whole day spent in preparations to vacate Baiawa. Ken's expectations, as advised two or three days ago, is fifty carriers for tomorrow. Was told two days ago tha that there would be six canoes to take us across the bay and up Moi Biri Creek to-morrow at "six o'clock". Further inquiry today brought the information that two of the canoes had departed for Medino where they belong. Therefore sent 40 loads to Moi Biri Landing on three of the larger canoes this afternoon. Canoes left at 4:50; leading one returned at 8 o'clock. The Kwagira V.C., a good type of man, reported in this morning; he has 13 men to carry tomorrow; went with the canoes this afternoon and returned tonight. Sent two of our boys (David and Jimmy) with the canoes with instructions to raise the cargo above the ground on timber and cover it with a fly. Consider it safe in this country to leave the cargo unguarded for a night. The biggest of the canoes here are small, and none of them have big enough outriggers. This afternoon the smallest of the three tilted over when one of the boys (David) jumped on the platform from the duckwalk. Result, two boxes doused in the water, one containing 60 lbs. of trade tobacco, the other collecting supplies of Van's. Have the contents drying over a lamp tonight, spread out on the detachable sago-midrib door of the resthouse veranda. Took tonight the names of the men who worked today and those who will carry tomorrow. The prospects are 14 from Baiawa, 13 from Kwagira; willing to go only as far as Kwagira. The Kwagira V.C. says the Opaigwari people will carry us from Kwagira to Binigumi. It is not plain at this time how Ken's 50 loads will be moved. Typewriters go into storage tonight. Have to limit ourselves to essentials from now on. Tuesday 5/12/53: Left Baiawa 6:25 A.M. with five canoes, 14 loads of gear, out 10 Gosiagos, and 14 Baiawa carriers. Dayman and Goropu mountain masses very clear. Mt. Victory under cloud. Crossed Lower end of Moi Biri Bay. Several small flocks of Torres Strait pigeons. Entered Moi Biri Creek 7:05; entrance very shallow; whole coast of bay mangrove fringed. A big brown python about 20 ft. up in a mangrove on creek bank. Creek very narrow and often arched over by mangroves; 40-50 ft. in widest parts, often barely 20 ft. wide and barely room for our outrigger canoes. The canoes scraped over several submerged logs. Mangroves mostly Rhizophora, fully 80 ft.high back from banks; adventitious roots hanging from some branches 50-60 ft. from ground. Slight rise of ground right bank and first garden (high) (?) 7:35. Garden house 7:45 (first house). Landing 8:00; left bank ca. 15 ft. above mud of creek; tide low. Carriers waiting at landing; 12 men and 4 women from Kwagira, 6 men and 2 small boys from Borovia. Scruffy lot; about 50% full grown or able bodied. Leaving Baiawa V.C. Iagitoroto at landing with 16 loads to be moved later; left for Kwagira 9:00 at tail end of carrier line; Geoff and Van on ahead. Country low-lying and semi-swampy; much of track muddy; would be bad going after rain. At 9:25 junction with government track which goes round head of Moi Biri Bay. Crossed a deep little creek on a log and reached first high ground 10:00. Slight gravel ridge 10:05, several later. Reached Kwagira village 10:20. Aneroid 20 m. (alt. 5 P.M. 50 m.). Vegetation sub-climax rain forest to near Kwagira, where rain forest second growths occupy old garden lands. A very tall Saccharum in grassy clearings and on river banks; alluvial soil along river; undercut banks ca. 15 ft. high. Gravel bars in bends; mostly greyish plutonic rocks.