#22 218 189 THUR. AUG. 6, 1953 (II) 147 RIVER CAMP. THIS STARTED OUT AS A NORMAL DAY, BUT ENDED WITH A BANG. I WE SKINNED 4 I MADE UP OUR FEN TRAP SPECIMENS IN THE MORNING JUST AFTER LUNCH KEN + DANIEL ARRIVED BACK IN CAMP FROM BRAWBA NIB MANEORA. DAVID BROUGHT ME A WALLABY SKULL + KEN 2 PLASTIC BAGS FULL OF SMALL BATS - HIPPOSIDEROS - ALL 1 SPECIES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SMALL CAVES IN AN ISOLATED MASS OF LIMESTONE JUST NORTH OF THE VILLAGE OF MANEORA. KEN PAID 2 NATIVES TO CRAWL IN + COLLECT THESE BATS IN TAMAL CAVE. IT WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF CATALOGING, LABELING + DUNKING THEM IN FORMALIN WHEN A POLICE RUNNER ARRIVED WITH MAIL, LETTERS FROM K.'S MOTHER & RVC PETERSON. THEN ANOTHER NATIVE ARRIVED FROM MANEORA WITH 2 MORE CLUSTERS OF BATS INCLUDING 13 LARGE HIPPOSIDEROS (1 BRIGHT ORANGE). JUST AS I FINISHED THESE I SAT DOWN TO READ MY LETTERS, "MY GANG" OF SMALL BOYS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE (NOW 5 P.M.) WITH THE FRUITS OF AN AFTERNOON HUNT: 9 POGONOMYS, 2 MELOMYS, + 45 SMALL, BROAD-NOSED BATS. MEN PAID THEM OFF WITH SALT, MATCHES, PAPER + SALT WHICH THEY TAKE TO THEIR FAMILIES. IT WAS A SIGHT TO SEE THEM COMING IN WITH BATS GLUTCHED IN FISTS + RATS DANGLING FROM BITS OF VINE. I WAS JUST AS EXCITED AS THEY WERE, BUT WONDERED IF I WOULD EVER GET A CHANCE AT MY MAIL. SAVED A FEW SPECIMENS OUT TO MAKE-UP DRY TO- MORROW. READ THE LATEST TIME (JULY 6) AFTER DINNER + THEN WROTE LETTERS + ADDRESSED 3 COLOR FILMS. 225 SPECIMENS FOR THE DAY. IT WAS GOOD OF KEN TO GO OUT OF HIS WAY TO DO THIS FAVOR FOR ME. 219 190 FRIDAY AUG. 7, 1953 146 RIVER CAMP. NOTHING IN TRAPS BUT WE HAD A FEW BATS + RATS TO MAKE UP FROM YESTERDAY. OUR MAIL RUNNER ARRIVED BACK FROM BINIARRA, ALSO WITH MAIL (FROM KAY + DORY - A FINE LONG LETTER). FINISHED SKINS LATE IN P.M. AFTER DINNER I SPENT SEVERAL HOURS CATALOGING, LIM-LIKE + TISABLE OUT JACKING BUT HOME EARLY - NO LUCK. DAVID + KIM OUT ALSO BUT KEN SUSPECTED THEM OF VISITING IN VILLAGE + NOT JACKING. SO WE WAITED UP FOR THEM. FINALLY HOME ABOUT 11:30 BUT WOULD ADMIT NOTHING. THE OTHER BOYS KNEW WHERE THEY HAD GONE BUT INSISTED THAT THEY WERE JACKING ACROSS THE RIVER. KEN WAS JUST ABOUT TO SEND ALL THE BOYS OUT IN THE FOREST TO SEARCH FOR THEM WHEN KIM + DAVID SHOWED UP - FROM THE DIRECTION OF BINIGUNI. WE ARE TRYING TO GUARD AGAINST THEIR STIRRING UP ANY TROUBLE IN THE VILLAGES (WOMEN) WHICH MIGHT UPSET OUR CARRIER AGREEMENTS. PILGA SENT ME 6 CHOCOLATE BARS!