MON. 4 MAY 1953 MENAPI. A DAY OF REST FOR ME - OUR LAST IN MENAPI, KEN UP EARLY TO NAIL UP MY SPECIMEN BOXES. THEY WENT ON BOARD THE "JESSIE" FIRST. LEN, GEOFF, + KEN CHECKED GEAR FROM STOREHOUSE TO BOAT. WROTE LETTERS TO KAY, MOTHER, HARRY, UNCLE WILL, MISS GROBE, MR. GOODWIN, DR. MAYR, PERRY, WILSON & GARY HARNED. WE HAVE A BIG STACK OF MAIL GOING BACK TO BUNTINGS IN SAMARAI. OUR INTERPRETER ARRIVED FROM BANIARA. WEARS A DISTINCTIVE BLACK OPEN SHIRT MARGINED WITH RED & WHITE; WHITE CUMMERBUND, BROAD LEATHER BELT + BLACK SHORTS. KOSIMA CAUGHT ANOTHER SMALL RAT - MY SPECIMEN FOR THE DAY. AFTER KAI WE WERE INVITED TO TEA AND AN EVEN- ING OF MUSIC + DANCING - AT MRS. SPILLERS'. SHE ARRANGED FOR SEVERAL OF THE VILLAGE BOYS WHO PLAY GUITARS + MANDOLINS TO COME IN TO ENTERTAIN US WITH NEW GUINEA SONGS. TWO MEN + TWO WOMEN DID THE DANCING. THE MEN WORE GRASS SKIRTS, TOO. AFTER A WHILE BOTH SONGS + DANCING BECAME TIRESOME BUT THE AUDIENCE WAS FASCINATING. THE ONLY PLACE FOR DANCING HERE IN PAPUA IS ON THE BEACH UNDER THE MOON. EVERY WINDOW + DOOR HAD ITS QUOTA OF MEN, WOMEN + CHILDREN LOOKING ON. SOME WERE INSIDE ON THE STAIRS LEADING TO 2ND FLOOR - ALL IN GRASS SKIRTS. SOME WEAR 6 OR MORE SKIRTS - THE DRESS ONES DYED IN VERTICAL STRIPES - GREEN, RED, PURPLE + OFTEN WHITE PANDANUS STRIPS. SKIRTS SMELL VERY FRESH. FATHER CHISHOLM WAS THERE FOR A VISIT. HE IS WELL-LIKED BY THE PEOPLE HERE (HE IS AN ANGLICAN - ST. STEPHENS - LONDON). WE HAD DELICIOUS CAKE, TARTS, TEA, + GINGER BEER FOR ME. OTHER VILLAGERS HAD STARTED A DRUM DANCE WHICH WAS STILL GOING STRONG WHEN I FIRST WOKE AT 3:1 A.M. QUITE AN UNUSUAL EVENING.