296 (267) FRI. OCT. 23, 1953 69 Top Camp. Our last day at this camp. And as always happens on this trip one of our best specimens came in at the last moment. Our river trapping paid off with a Hydromys in Isilele's line. A Young 9; Our first for the island. This is one of the 6 species record- ed by Beck. Brings our species total to 20. Ken sent a note up with the carriers that he has shot a "Vagita" or lowland wallaby - our first with the exception of lower mandibles. Finished our packing + the boys have bound the poles on for carriers. 42 men + women showed up early this p.m. + are now camping under our 3 flys - quite a full camp. We have issued them with a feed of rice + meat and they seem quite happy; also a few sticks of trade tobacco as a present. We are clouded in now (4:30 p.m.); just as long as we have no rain tomorrow! Ken also sent contents of radiogram from Buntings - they will send boat to pick us up at Bolu Bow on Nov. 14. All the people are now hunkered down around their smokey fires. 297 (268) SAT. OCT. 24 68 Top Camp to #2 Camp (c. 900 M - may be lower). Up at 5:30 a.m. to break camp + get our carrier loads organized. Sun came up + our usual good luck with weather prevailed once again. We left at 7: a.m. + arrived in camp a little before 10: a.m. We came along the long grass ridge and had beautiful views of the triple peaks. Took pictures of the carrier line. Ferguson Mts, covered with thick cumulus. Leaving the spur we went tracked down a new cut trail thru thick forest. Our camp seems to be in a transition zone between oak + rain forest. It is in a small cove with a little flat ground for our flys + tents. A good spring & wells out of camp hillside. Ken had most of camp rigged including out tent so we moved right in. We bought a stone axe from one of the natives. Ken tells me they are supposed to be made on Cape Vogel. Ken also bought a young sugar glider (Petaurus); it is very tame an feeds well on milk with sugar added. He won't let me have it for a specimen! While we were at Top Camp Ken had the good luck to find 2 of the old stone slings - the making is a lost art now. This is the only place in Papua that they were known to have been used. We paid our hunter off: 1 drum salt, 4 one £ notes, 7 sticks of tobacco + 3 used batteries. He was rich! But he will share it all with his Garuwata villagers. No poor men here in Papua. Ken had a Pogonomys waiting for me. Same type as Top Camp but larger + darker brown. Bats over clearing at dusk. 30 traps out.