DOWNSE OUR GEAR WHEN WE REACH SAMARAI. I SILENTLY WENT OUT HUNTING FOR WALLABY TONIGHT ON THE GRASSY HILLS ABOVE THE REST HOUSE. WE HEARD A NUMBER THUMPING THEIR TAILS (1) ON THE GROUND BUT WE SAW NONE IN THE HIGH GRASS, DROPPINGS EVERY- WHERE. MANY ACRES HAD BEEN BURNED OFF + A GOOD CROP OF NEW GRASS WAS UP. WE THEN HACKED IN THE SCRUB; FLYING FOXES FEEDING BUT WE COULD SEE NONE. FINALLY CAME TO STREAM FROM WHICH BOYS WERE GETTING OUR WATER. AS I STOOD THERE A BAT FLEW INTO MY LIGHT BEAM, NOT 5 FEET AWAY. FIRED MY .410 FROM THE HIP + THEN A 12 GAUGE #6 WHICH BROUGHT HER DOWN. IT WAS MY OLD FRIEND NYCTIMENE — THE FIRST COLLECTED ON THE TRIP, + ON MY LAST COLLECTING NIGHT. LUCKILY THE SHOT HIT THE RIGHT END + THE RIGHT WING. SKULL PERFECT + SKIN MADE UP WELL. MY COLLECTING LUCK HAS BEEN OUT OF THIS WORLD. KEN SHOT ANOTHER WALLABY TONIGHT. HE + DAVID HAD QUITE A CHASE BUT THEY FINALLY CAUGHT HER UP. VILLAGE POLICE MAN BROUGHT UP A FEW PARTIAL SKULLS OF WALLABIES. 252. 223 WED, SEPT. 9, 1953 113 BRAIWA. MADE UP BAT + BOYS SKINNED OUT THE 9 WALLABY. HAD 7 POUCH YOUNG WHEN SHOT BUT ONE FELL OUT WHILE DAVID WAS CARRYING HER HOME. PICKED UP THE SOUND OF THE 'CAPE VOGEL' AT LEAST 1/2 HOUR BEFORE ANYONE ELSE HEARD HER (INCLUDING KEN). CAME UP TO ANCHOR ABOUT 2:30 P.M.; KEN HAD ALL CARGO READY FOR LOADING — FINISHED BY DINNER. CAPT. SMITH, WHO HAS A TRAD- ING STATION 'TOONWARRA' ON THE TIP OF CAPE VOGEL CAME UP FOR. DINNER. OUR BOYS PUT ON A DANCE IN THE VILLAGE. I WENT TO SLEEP TO THE SOUND OF DRUMS. POLICEMAN GAVE ME MORE SKULLS WHICH RESULTED FROM A VILLAGE HUNT TODAY. TOOK PICTURES OF HUNTEDS. 253. 224 THUR. SEPT. 10, 112 BRAIWA THRU COLLINGWOOD BAY, PAST CAPE VOGEL INTO GOOD- NOUGH BAY. UP BEFORE DAWN + OFF TO AN EARLY START. SOON AFTER DAY BREAK. FINE WEATHER BUT THE S.E. HIT US AS WE ROUNDED THE CAPE. CALLED IN AT CAPT. SMITH'S PLACE. GOOD ANCHORAGE. BUILDING A NEW GODOWN (WAREHOUSE + STORE). HAS COTTON, SILK, COCONUTS, PAPAW PANS + ROSELLAS. MAKING A VERY FINE PLACE. WEIGHED MYSELF ON COPRA SCALE — 185, WITH ALL CLOTHES. SAILED ABOUT 4: P.M. WE WILL RUN ALL NIGHT ACROSS THE BAY. EGGS FOR BREAKFAST; FISH STEAKS FOR LUNCH.