Mother's Birthday - All my love to you. #. 83 WED, 22 APRIL 1953 MENAPAI. NOTHING IN TRAPS EXCEPT A BANDICOOT IN MY GRASS LINE. BOYS SHINNED 2 FOXES + CUSCUS. VISITED MY TRAP LINE AGAIN TONIGHT + HAD ANOTHER BANDICOOT. S.E. BLEW MOST OF DAY BUT SOME LIGHT RAIN COMING OFF BAY TONIGHT. KEN + DAVID WERE TO HAVE GONE OFF FOR THE NIGHT TO TALL RAIN FOREST SEVERAL MILES BACK (N) FROM COAST, BUT DAVID REFUSED TO GO + SINCE THE NATIVE IS NEVER RIGHT IF HE DIS- OBEYS AN ORDER OUT HERE IN N.G. (NO MATTER WHAT HIS REASONS MAY BE) HE WAS PAID OFF. LEN REFUSED, OF COURSE, TO HIRE HIM (HE IS KEN'S PERSONAL BOY). IF HE WANTS TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR US, HE MUST MAKE UP WITH KEN. THUS THE WHITE MAN SAVES FACE. HE HAS BEEN WORKING HARD + FAITHFULLY + WITH INITIATIVE FOR ME. WE WERE BLENDING INTO A GOOD TEAM. KEN IS VERY FOND OF HIM - THEY HAVE BEEN TOGETHER 5 YRS. SO I HOPE THAT MATTERS WORK OUT. POSSIBLY HIS BEING #1 BOY IN THE TEAM WENT TO HIS HEAD. HE HAS BEEN RELUC- TANT TO PITCH IN ON EXTRA CAMP WORK ON OCCASION. KEN TOOK JIMMY WITH HIM, 30 TRAPS + A SHOTGUN + YACK- LIGHT. HOPE THEY HAVE LUCK. BOYS SINGING FOR ALL THERE WORTH TONIGHT - SOUND HAPPY. MORE ARMY RATIONS TONIGHT NOODLES + MEAT BALLS WITH GRAVY, HASH + HIMA BEANS, JAM, COCOA, PEARS, APPLESAUCE, PINEAPPLE. THE MEATS ARE NEVER TO THE BRITISH TASTE. THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE CORNED BEEF OUT OF CANS! THEY REALLY LIKE IT. YOU SIMPLY CAN'T CHANGE A PERSON'S FOOD TASTES. THE BOYS CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT BOILED RICE. NO JACK- ING, EARLY TO BED AFTER A HOT BATH