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was completed today.
About half dozen Papu men & boys paid us a visit,
bringing 10 caps (bought for 2 shillings tobacco) & 6 papayas.
No rain down below, they said. They did not say
more than an hour in our mist and rain.
Monday OCT. 15. Very heavy rain from about
11 P.M. to morning. Completely misty day with
occasional light showers. One of the worst spells of weather I have
experienced. This is the 5th day of it. The forest is saturated &
dripping. Wind (a cloud draft) from N.E. Today.
The weather kept me in camp to mid morning, after
which I made for the peak. Followed the narrow ridge east
by a path cut by the mammal boys, then cut beyond that
at the foot of a rock face ca. 200 ft. high on the south side of
the peak. Could go no further on the precipitous steps. At
the peak I found a covering, & being on the bare rock gave very
rocky conditions. A fine white Dorya grew high on the rocks near
the foot of the rock face, with one plant each
of the jungle lichens Conchobium of Mr. Petriana or formerly
(Can Orchid) present on the mountain top of all the islands we
have visited & a sick viola Rosa. Never have I seen a
Tropical mountain so poor in orchids (only 3 off. collected
&), and ferns. The Plant (same as a whole in the forest
[illegible], but I am collecting plants quite new to me.
Again walking in loops. Ran spoiled jackling last
night, only two Macroglossa were shot. In nearly three weeks
on Rosset all mammals but one not have come from the
same area. Was it obvious that we are running short of
ammunition, Galleries & bait. We can make our bait from
mammal skins, a hand. Baiting can be bought in Tamara-
when we reach there about the end of November — or perhaps
from a local store. Ammo is a different matter. Do not
have smaller than three is available in Tamara. Will have
in order for Oberon. We come well with an
ample supply of cartridges. It has been agreed that a
treaty of sign (in the 1866, without my knowing) that a
sharpening was developing.
Mail came by native messenger from Mabale. The
"Munian" arrived yesterday after being missing for some day
(with radio out of commission). Took supplies by me, and
tobacco by Tonal, did not arrive. Took off for Mabale
after lunch to inquire into matters — also, I must meet, 10