1 TRUTHS, 14 MAY 1953 BINIGUNI. LEN & GEOFF LEFT FOR MT. MANEAU AT 7:15 AM 8 CARRIER LOADS WITH THEM - NO COLLECTING GEAR - ONLY FOOD, TENTS, FLYS & PERSONAL SWEGS. THE PLAN IS FOR KEN + MYSELF TO START UP TOMORROW WITH MAIN CARRIER PARTY AND ARRIVING TOP CAMP SAME DAY AS LEN & GEOFF. VILLAGER BROUGHT IN BIG 9 WHITE CUSCUS AT 4:15 PM, FAT, WITH TENDER SKIN. WILL HAVE TO TAKE UP MOUNTAIN WITH ME; ABOUT DUSK THE COUNCILLORS LINED UP AVAILABLE CARRIERS IN FRONT OF REST HOUSE. KEN TOOK DOWN THEIR NAMES & VILLAGES. ONLY 37 MEN + 3 WOMEN PLUS 3 COUNCILLORS SHOWED UP READY TO CLIMB MANEAU. WE NEED 60-70! KEN + I PUT ASIDE LEN'S COLLECTING GEAR & ESSENTIAL FOOD FOR THIS PARTIAL CARRY. SOME TOWNS SENT NO MEN & IT IS A BIG PROBLEM TO KNOW HOW & WHERE TO DIG UP MORE CARRIERS. POLICE RUNNER ARRIVED AT 7:30 P.M. WITH CABLE FOR LEN FROM MARIE'S BROTHER. CONDITION SERIOUS BUT DOCTORS MAY BE ABLE TO CHECK AGAIN. TO KEEP LEN ADVISED. KEN + I DECIDED TO SEND UP LEN'S GEAR - BELIEVE HE WILL STAY TO COLLECT ON MOUNTAIN. KEN WROTE NOTE TO LEN FOR RUNNER TO CARRY UP MANEAU: SHOULD PICK THEM UP FAIRLY EARLY ON TRACK. ANOTHER SNAKE - SHORT & THICK, WITH TRANSVERSE VENTRAL MARKINGS CAME IN THIS AFTERNOON. POLICE RUNNER BROUGHT LETTER FROM KAY POSTMARKED APR. 28 MONTCLAIR - WRITTEN APR. 26 ON "OCEAN MONARCH". RECEIVED IN SAMARAI MAY 7. NO COLLECTING. OUR POLICE INTER- PRETER WILL GO WITH CARRIERS, KEN + I WILL WAIT FOR MORE CARRIERS. NO POINT IN MY GOING - NO COLLECTING GEAR + I WOULD BE EATING FOOD MEANT FOR WORKING PARTY.