Diary of H. M. Van Deusen January 29 to November 17, 1953
Page 71
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Transcription
FRI. 10 APR. 1953 DABORA TO MENAPI BY "RURU". BOAT CAME DAY EARLY. KEN WYNN ON BOARD - RETURNING FROM ASCENT OF MT. MANERO. BOYS SPENT A.M. SKINNING OUT 3 CUSCUSES. I TAGGED ALL THE ALCOHOLIC BATS. INJECTED 7 RATS + 1 SMALL BANDICOAT WHICH BOYS HAD IN TRAPS. BOUGHT 1 MELOMYS FROM VILLAGER. BOAT IN EARLY - ASKED THEM TO WAIT UNTIL 3 P.M. SO LEN + I COULD FINISH OFF SOME OF OUR WORK. THE BIG 9 CUSCUS IS UNSPOTTED BUT HAS A DROWN WASH. BOAT COULD NOT COME BACK TOMORROW SO LEN + I PACKED OUR GEAR + WAITED FOR BOYS TO BRING IN TRAPS. DAVID FOUND A SMALL DROWN CUSCUS ON THE WAY SO HE TIED HIM ON A POLE + WE BROUGHT HIM HOME ON THE BOAT. AFTER DINNER TONIGHT WE HAD A MEETING TO HEAR KEN'S REPORT ON HIS ASCENT OF MANERO. WE DECIDED ON OUR "SUMMIT CAMP" WHICH WILL BE AT THE LAST WATER. TOP OF MT. IS 2 HR. WALK FROM CAMP. PLAN TO MAKE THIS OUR FIRST CAMP + STAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH. START FOR TOP ABOUT 1ST WEEK IN MAY. BOYS HAPPY TO SEE KEN + GETTING BACK TO MENAPI. SKINNED OUT BABY CUSCUS JUST BEFORE BOAT LEFT + FINISHED IT AT MENAPI. ALL SPECIMENS LEFT HERE SEEM DRY + IN GOOD SHAPE. PATRICK + TIMMY - BOYS WHO WENT WITH KEN - ARE QUITE PROUD OF THEMSELVES. KEN MAY HAVE BEEN 1ST WHITE MAN ON SUMMIT. BROUGHT HOME A POS- SUM - LONG HAIR, DARK BROWN COLL. OVER 2000 MET. DOG RAN OFF WITH LOWER NAW. REPORTS LOTS OF MAMMAL SIGN. S.E.I. TRADES BLOWING STRONG TO- NIGHT. NO JACKING. NO TRAPS. NO BATS FLYING,