HAVE A FINE SKINNING TABLE PATA PATA WITH A SINGLE FLATTENED LOG AS A SEAT FOR THE 4 OF US. KEN JACKED A DOBSONIA, + ALSO BROUGHT IN 2 GECKOS. DAY OVERCAST WITH LIGHT DRIZZLE THIS P.M. NO STARS TONIGHT. WE ARE LIVING HIGH AGAIN: HAD PRESSURE COOKED PIGEON TWICE TODAY AS WELL AS OUR FINE ASSORTMENT OF VEGETABLES, ALSO BANANAS + APRICOTS MIXED FOR DESERT. THESE DRIED APRICOTS ARE VERY GOOD EITHER DRY OR COOKED (TASTE LIKE JAM). WENT HUNTING TONIGHT + SHOT 1 UROMYS (GIANT RAT) THAT WAS WANDERING ABOUT ON GROUND; ALSO A 2ND, BUT COULD NOT FIND HIM. FOUND 1 GECKO FOR GEOFF. KEN HAS ARRANGED FOR RUNNER TO GO OUT WITH MAIL ON SATURDAY. PRACTICALLY ALL THE VILLAGE IS OUT ON A HUNTING TRIP GETTING FOOD FOR A BIG FEAST 2 WEEKS FROM NOW. IT IS DOUBTFUL IF WE STAY HERE MORE THAN 3 OR 4 WEEKS. WE MAY MOVE 1/2 WAY DOWN TO THE COAST FOR REMAINING TIME. THIS IS MOSTLY 2ND GROWTH RAIN FOREST + RATHER POOR PICKING FOR HEN. VIRGIN R.F. NORTH OF BINIGUNI. WE ARE WRITING TO CHARTER A BOAT TO PICK US UP AT BAIWA (2ND WEEK SEPT). 212. (183) FRIDAY 31 JULY 1953 153 RIVER CAMP. HUNTING LAST NIGHT GAVE ME 2 GIANT RATS (UROMYS). IT WAS A SHORT DISTANCE OUT ON THE BINIGUNI TRACK + THE RATS WERE ONLY A FEW FEET OFF THE TRAIL HUNTING ON THE GROUND. DAVID SHOT AT A WHITE CUSCUS BUT IT KEPT ON GOING UP THE TREE. CLIMBED FOR IT THIS A.M. + FOUND IT IN THE SAME TREE. WEIGHED 13½ LBS. ALSO HAD A LARGE POUCH YOUNG. IT DID NOT GO OUT TONIGHT. WROTE LETTERS TO K., ART RICHMOND, ALCIDE + THE OTHERS IN PREP. CORPS, + UNCLE WILL. SENDING OUT MY LAST MANEUVER FILM. 213 (184) SAT. 1 AUG. 1953 152 RIVER CAMP. DAVID JACKED A NEW CUSCUS LAST NIGHT - GRAYISH-BROWN WITH A DORSAL STRIPE. 2 VERY TINY POUCH YOUNG. MUCH EXCITEMENT THIS A.M. WOMEN FROM VARIOUS VILLAGES SHOWED UP WITH ALL KINDS OF VEGETABLES. KEN DID THE BUYING - WEIGHED EACH STRING BAG FULL + PAID OFF WITH SALT + NEWS - PAPER WHICH THEY USE FOR ROLLING CIGARETTES. VERY PHOTOGENIC CROWD. TOOK AT LEAST A ROLL OF FILM. LIGHT NOT TOO GOOD. VERY HAPPY PEOPLE + IT CERTAINLY HELPS TO HAVE A MAN WHO CAN TALK THEIR LANGUAGE. SOME OF THE WOMEN WERE CARRYING YOUNG BABIES IN THEIR STRING BAGS. MY BOYS WERE NOT TOO SHARP ON SKINNING TODAY - HAD BEEN CHEWING BETEL NUT WHICH IS AVAILABLE IN GOOD SUPPLY HERE IN BINIGUNI. TONIGHT JUST AFTER DINNER TUNSI + A FRIEND SHOWED UP LUGGING A HUGE PYTHON THEY HAD CAUGHT SEVERAL HOURS WALK FROM CAMP. KEN FINALLY PAID OFF WITH 5 SHILLINGS, PACKAGE OF 10 RAZOR BLADES, 24 BOXES OF MATCHES + AN EMPTY TOBACCO TIN! WE ALSO HOPE THAT THEY WILL BRING IN SOME MAMMALS. THE HEAD + TAIL OF THE SNAKE WERE LASHED TO A POLE. GEOFF GOT HIS SPECIMEN INTO A BAG + THIS IS NOW IN THE RIVER WEIGHTED DOWN WITH STONES. TRAIN TONIGHT - DID NOT GO OUT. DAVID OUT EARLY. SHOT A "FLYING SQUIRREL".