THURS. 16 APR. 1953 MENAPI. THREATENING DARK CLOUDS IN A.M. WITH A FEW DROPS OF RAIN. CLEARED + S.E. TRADES BEGAN IN P.M. HAD ALL MY SKINS OUT DRYING, UN- PINNED ALMOST ALL. CAUGHT SMALL REDDISH RAT IN KITCHEN LAST NIGHT. 2 RATS IN TRAP LINES. DAVID TACKED BUT FOUND NOTHING. GOVERNMENT BOAT IN TODAY WITH ASST. DISTRICT OFFICER. HE CAME DOWN FROM SAMARAI TO SEE THAT ALL WAS WELL + TO OFFER ANY AID POSSIBLE. MUCH INTER- ESTED IN OUR SPECIMENS. BOAT RETURNED TO BANIARA. ANOTHER GOV. BOAT SEEN GOING IN TO B. - MAY HAVE FOREST OFFICER + DUTCH BOTANIST ON BOARD. COMING TO VISIT US + STUDY LEN'S BOTANICAL SPECIMENS TECHNIQUE. F.O.FF. MAY ACCOMPANY US UP MT. MANERO. KEN PITCHED ONE OF OUR GOOD TENTS FOR THEIR USE. BOYS + I SPENT ALL DAY SHINNING + MAKING UP BATS + RATS. BOYS WERE SHINNING BATS (SMALL) FOR 1ST TIME + THEY DID A GOOD JOB. CAPT. SMITH WENT BY IN HIS BOAT TWICE TODAY BUT DID NOT STOP IN AT MENAPI. KEN WENT DOWN TO LOOK OVER TRURUS'S ENGINE - O.K. NOW. BILL MASON GOING TO SAMARAI SOON. HAD THE YOUNG & SOCIAL SET AT MY ELBOWS WHILE UNPINNING SPECIMENS. YOUNG BOYS STOP BY AT EVERY CHANCE. FOOD CONTINUES GOOD WITH PLENTY OF FRESH FRUIT. TIM BAKED EXCELLENT BREAD TODAY. DAVID SHOT 1 BAT ON WING TONIGHT - ONLY HEAD + 1 WING LEFT (SCOTIANS) WRITe UP SPECIMEN NOTEBOOK TONIGHT. NO JACKING.