off FOR OUR MOUNTAIN CAMP TODAY WITH A COUPLE OF CARRIERS. THEY ARE GOING TO READY CAMP FOR OUR ARRIVAL NEXT WED. MADE UP SPECIMENS AND SORTED OUT EQUIPMENT FOR OUR MOUNTAIN TRIP. QUIET DAY. 277. (248) SUN. OCT. 4, 1953 88 BOLU BOLU. T. SILELE BROUGHT IN TRAPS + ANOTHER NEW SPECIES FOR THE ISLAND - A LARGE RATTUS WITH A TAIL NOT UNLIKE OUR PREVIOUSLY CAUGHT MEDIUM GRASS RATS. THIS IS 13 SPECIES TO DATE. A NATIVE ALSO BROUGHT IN 11 LOWER MANDIBLES OF THE GRASSLAND WALLABY - ALL SIZES - A GOOD SERIES. HAVE NOW FOUND OUT WHY THEY NEVER HAVE COMPLETE SKULLS; THEY BREAK OPEN THE CRANIUM + EAT THE BRAIN. AL RAMSDEN SHOWED UP IN HIS BOAT EARLY IN A.M. BROUGHT NO MAIL, BUT HE DID LEAVE US 4 DOZEN FAIRLY FRESH EGGS IN EXCHANGE FOR A BOTTLE OF RUM. LEFT ABOUT NOON. FINISHED PACKING CARRIER LOADS. TO BED EARLY. 278. (249) MON. OCT. 5 87 BOLU BOLU TO WAKONAI (ABOUT 500 FT). UP AT 5:30, CARRIERS CAME AT 6; WE WERE ON THE TRAIL AT 6:30 A.M. HEADING NORTH ALONG THE COAST - SOMEWHAT INLAND. WE CROSSED A NUMBER OF GOOD-FLOW- ING MOUNTAIN STREAMS WITH SWEET-TASTING WATER. ARRIVED AT WAKONAI, A PLEASANTLY LOCATED FOOTHILL VILLAGE, ABOUT 9:30 A.M. SUN VERY HOT DURING LAST HOUR. WE OVERLOOK AIRSTRIP WHICH WAS USED DURING WAR. PUSHING STREAM JUST A FEW FEET BELOW THE REST HOUSE. SPENT DAY LOAFING + PADDLING IN BROOK. TOM- MORROW WE START UP MOUNTAIN. WE ARE JUST UNDER THE EASTERN- MOST OF THE PEAKS; THIS SHOOTS UP TO 7000 FEET. 279. (250) TUES. OCT. 6 86 WAKONAI TO GARUWATA#2 VILLAGE TO WATERFALL CAMP (840 M). LEFT WAKONAI AT 6:15 A.M. STARTED CLIMBING SPURS FROM CENTRAL MASS. WE ARE SOUTH OF THE GARUWATA RIVER - PEAKS WIE NORTH. PASSED THRU ONE TINY SHANTY TOWN PERCHED ON THE KNIFE EDGE TRACK. HOUSES NO BIGGER THAN OUR TENT + MADE FROM CORRUGATED IRON THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE SALVAGED FROM WAR SURPLUS. VIEWS OPENED UP QUICKLY: VIVIGANI AIR STRIP, AMULET IS- LANDS TO N.E. OF FERGUSON IS., SEYMOUR BAY. GARDEN PATCHES CLEARED ON ALL BUT THE VERY STEEPEST OF SLOPES. TARO, YAMS + MANIOS. THE FIRST SPUR WAS THE WORST. THEN WE STARTED SIDE HILL TRAVELING ALONG NARROW TRAILS IN GRASS + STONES. MY CORD-SOLED BOOTS WERE PERFECT FOR THE DRY TRACKS. CROSSED 2 SMALL STREAMS WHICH WERE LIFE-SAVERS. SUN HOT EVEN