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Transcription
SUGAR, COCOA, COFFEE, TIN, BREAD + CRACKERS. MADE LOT
OF SMOKE SO KEN WILL KNOW WHEN + WHERE WE ARE. BOYS NOW
COLLECTING WOOD FOR NIGHT + MAKING LEAF BEDS - 5 P.M.
THIS IS A POSSIBLE 2 WEEK COLLECTING SITE 2 MONTHS FROM NOW. WILL
EAT + GO TO BED EARLY. CARRIERS NOW CHEWING BETEL NUT + SMOKING + TALKING A
SUN. 1M MAY 1953 MILE A MINUTE
BINIGUNI TO FIRST CAMP SITE ON MT. MANEAU - 1/4 MILE
BEYOND "TEA HOUSE" - A ROUGH FOREST SHELTER. THIS IS WHERE
LEN + GEOFF CAMPED LAST THURSDAY NIGHT. THE POLES FOR
THEIR SHELTER FLY ARE STANDING IN A LITTLE CLEARING
JUST OFF THE TRAIL (NOT VERY FLAT). I DO NOT HAVE FLY + I
HOPE THE DRY WEATHER OF THE LAST FEW DAYS HOLDS TONIGHT
+ TOMORROW. TODAY HAS BEEN PERFECT. MY GROUND CLOTH IS ON
A THIN BED OF TREE FERN FRONDS (+ A TREE FERN ARCHES OVER
MY BED) + MY SLEEPING BAG WILL FEEL GOOD TONIGHT. MY NET IS
RIGGED OVER ALL + TUCKED IN UNDER THE CLOTH. FINE IF IT DOES
NOT RAIN. FINISHED WEIGHING GEAR THIS A.M. I HAVE: COLL. BOX #40;
BROWN SWAG OF TRAPS, TOW + BAIT; GREEN SWAG OF SAWDUST, ALUM + ARS,
NAPHTHALENE, NIGHTLIGHT, NOTEBOOKS + A FEW CLOTHES; MY BEDDING +
CLOTHES SWAG, KEROSENE + MORE RICE WITH US AS WELL AS OUR OWN
RATION'S FOR 5 MEALS - 10 MEN (7 CARRIERS, BINIGUNI POLICEMAN, MY-
SELF + DAVID). SHAVED + THEN LEFT B. AT 10:50 A.M. AN EASY LEVEL
WALK SKIRTING THE MANEAU RIDGE (THRU RAIN FOREST) BROUGHT US
TO A MOUNTAIN CREEK - 11:40 A.M. 100 YDS DOWN CREEK A SMALL
TORRENT FALLS DOWN OVER ROCK LEDGES. WE SPELLED UNTIL 12:25 P.M.
CRISIS - NO MATCHES, HAD 3 IN COLL. TRUNK BUT IT WAS ALL LASHED UP
SO DID NOT TELL THEM. ALL TRIED TO MAKE SPARK - SOME WITH VINE
RUNNING UNDER SPLIT STICK WITH TINDER UNDERNEATH [illegible], OTHERS BY RUBBING
ONE STICK ON ANOTHER [illegible]. NO ONE SUCCEEDED. UP TORRENT BED AT 12:25
BUT SOON BRANCHED AWAY - STEEP GOING (LIKE STEEP PART OF MOOSILAUKE).
SPELL 1 - 1:30, BETWEEN 2 CREEKS AT 1:30. OVER DRY CREEK BED. KEEPING
TO SMALL RIDGES. HEAVY RAIN FOREST. OCCASIONAL NARROW VIEWS OUT TO
COLLINGWOOD BAY. SPELL 2! TO 2:15. CREEK ROARING OFF TO LEFT (E). TEA
HOUSE AT 2:30. CAMP AT 2:35. TOTAL WALKING TIME 2 HR. 35 MIN. ALL
CARRIERS OK. DAVID GOT WATER. I MADE LEMONADE. FOUND TREE NEAR
TRAIL ON WAY UP. 10 LBS. RICE + 3 TINS OF DULLY BEEF TO BOYS. I HAVE TEA