TUES. 26 MAY 1953 TOP CAMP. HAVE JUST COME IN FROM 2 HRS. OF HACKING (7:15- 9:15 P.M.) WITH LITTLE LOSIMA FROM GOODENOUGH ISLAND. HAD ALL OUR LUNCH IN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES. I SHOT A GOLDEN-GREEN RING- TAILED POSSUM JUST AT THE EDGE OF CAMP IN THE SCRUB (HIGH MOSSY FOREST). FOUND NOTHING ELSE EXCEPT 1 RATTUS IN 1 OF MY TRAPS. LOSIMA IS A GOOD HACKING COMPANION (REPEATING MYSELF). DAVID SKINNED THE GIANT RAT TODAY (TAIL IS ALMOST 16" LONG! THE BODY 12"). HE FOUND 3 EMBRYOS. ONLY 7 RATTUS IN TRAPS TODAY. UNPINNED 37 SPECIMENS. THEY DRY VERY QUICKLY IN MY TENT WHEN THE SUN BEATS DOWN. BOYS FINISHED SKINNING EARLY, TOOK COLD BATH IN STREAM & THEN RAN FOR THE SUN. SAW A SMALL LIZARD AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR HOLE-IN-THE-GROUND JOHN. TOLD GEOFF HE MANAGED TO NET IT (WITHOUT ACCIDENT) - OUR FIRST AT THIS CAMP. HIS BOYS HAVE FOUND TINY FROGS. GEOFF IS BUSH BEATING INTO A SHEET. HIS INSECT COLLECTIONS HAVE SINCE SHOWN A SHARP RISE. TOOK IN MY BROOK RAT TRAPS & HAVE RESET ALONG FOREST HACKING TRAIL (17). CLOUDS BLED IN ABOUT DUSK & I THOUGHT OUR GOOD WEATHER WAS GOING TO TURN TO RAIN. CLEARED AFTER DINNER. LONG-TAILED BIRD-OF-P. WAS CALLING IN WOODS TODAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. ALMOST TWICE A DAY WE HAVE HARD DRIED PEAS. THEY STILL HAVE FOUND NO WAY TO SOFTEN THEM UP. I SHALL NEVER GO ON ANOTHER TRIP WITHOUT A GOOD SELECTION OF DEHYDRATED FOOD. NEW BREAD TODAY. GOOD NIGHT, DARLING.