#23 220 (191) SAT. AUG. 8, 1953 145 RIVER CAMP. ONLY 3 RATTUS IN CAMP, BUT 2 SMALL BOYS SHOWED UP WITH A FLYING FOX (DOBSONIA). FINISHED THESE UP + SPENT THE 7.P.M. UNPINNING, WRAPPING + PACKING ANOTHER BLACK BOX FULL OF SKINS TO BE SENT DOWN TO BAIDWA NEXT MONDAY. KEN + DAVID LEFT LATE IN P.M. TO GO ON A WATER RAT HUNT THAT THE CHIEF HAD ORGANIZED FOR MY BENEFIT (1 FOR SALT!). THEY MAY SPEND THE NIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR AWAY THE STREAMS ARE BUT THEY ARE WEST OF HERE & RUN INTO THE MAIN RIVER. DETAILS TO MORROW. MY GANG SHOWED UP JUST BEFORE DINNER WITH 8 MORE POGOONOMYS! AM GOING TO BED EARLY TONIGHT. I SMELL A BUSY DAY TOMORROW. BOUGHT SOME OHARI NUTS FOR A BOX OF MATCHES - BEST NUTS WE HAVE HAD YET. KIM BAKED A FINE APRICOT PIE TONIGHT. I CANT IMAGINE TO WHAT GENUS THESE WATER RATS BELONG - THEY ARE SAID TO BE SMALL. 231 (192) SUN. AUG. 9, 1953 144 RIVER CAMP. KEN ARRIVED BACK IN CAMP THIS A.M. AFTER A FRUITLESS WATER RAT HUNT. HOWEVER, THEY DID BRING IN A TRACTYLOPSILA AND A TINY SHEATH-TAILED BAT. THIS PLUS THE POGOONIMYS + 2 RATTUS IN TRAPS GAVE ME 12 SPECIMENS FOR THE DAY. AFTER LUNCH LUKIM CAME OVER FROM BINIGUNI WITH A WALLAGY SKULL - A NEW ONE FOR THE COLLECTION. WE HOPE TO GET A COMPLETE ONE BEFORE WE LEAVE THE AREA. PAID FOR IT WITH SALT. KEN WENT OVER DABA NAMES OF LOCAL ANIMALS WITH LUKIM. A PYTHON + A CARPET SNAKE WERE BROUGHT IN BY VILLAGE BOYS FOR GEOFF + JUST BEFORE DINNER OUR BOYS FOUND A SMALL SNAKE AT THE RIVER EDGE WHICH HE GRABBED WITH A FORCERS, HEAVY SHOWER FOR SHORT TIME THIS P.M. - OUR FIRST IN SOME TIME. THE VILLAGE HUNTERS ARE BACK FROM THEIR PIG HUNT + PLAN THEIR FEAST LATER THIS WEEK. KEN MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET CARRIERS FOR TOMORROW. A GOVERNMENT PATROL OFFICER, PETER O'SULLIVAN, MAY ARRIVE IN BINIGUNI TOMORROW + ONE OF THE CAPE NOVEL MISSIONARIES MAY COME THRU ON TOUR LATER IN WEEK. THEY NEED CARRIERS ALSO + IT MAY MESS OUR MOVING SCHEDULE UP. WE WOULD LIKE TO BREAK CAMP HERE NEXT FRI- DAY. TOTAL SPECIMENS FOR LAST WEEK 260. TOTAL FOR FIRST 20 WEEKS 1302. DAVID, TSIGILE + LUK LUK OUT 4 PACKING TONIGHT. 222 (193) MON. AUG. 10 143 RIVER CAMP. POOR TRAPPING - 2 RATTUS + 1 MELOMYS. NO CARRIERS SHOWED UP. KEN + I WENT INTO BINIGUNI AT 1 P.M. BOYS BROUGHT BOX 39 FULL OF