96 WED.A.M SKINNED BANDICOOT. COMING INTO BAIWA 9:30 THIS IS A SELDOM VISITED COAST (DON'T LOOK FOR MAIL FOR QUITE A WHILE. WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE CAN SEND IT OUT BY RUNNER) TUES. 5 MAY 1953 ALL MY LOVE H. MENAPI. UP AT 3:45 A.M. DRUMS STILL GOING DOWN IN VILLAGE, ROLLED SWAGS, FOLDED STRETCHERS, BOYS OUT EARLY TO CARRY GEAR TO BOAT. MOON IS HIGH WITH HALO. VILLAGERS STRAGGLING BY - A GUITAR OR TWO PLAYING. IT IS JUST 6:15 THE NAGGED BLUE OUTLINE OF THE CENTRAL RANGE IS OUTLINED AGAINST A PINK MORNING SKY. LITTLE BLUE + WHITE FLYCATCHER (MAGTAIL) IS SQUEAKING AWAY, BOYS COMING DOWN TRAIL WITH THEIR SWINGS. JESSIE'S DORY IS LOADING OUR GEAR. 6:30 - OUR LAST BOYS COMING OFF NOW - SINGING. THEY ALL STAND OR SIT ON THE GUNWALES OF THE DORY. 6:45 DEPARTED, MANEAO CLEAR ON HORIZON. WE HAVE TO ROUND CAPE VOGEI TODAY AND RUN UP TO THE HEAD OF COLLINGWOOD BAY. GOSDENOUGH IS LOOMING 9000 FT. STRAIGHT OUT OF THE SKA. CHANGED COURSE TO ROUND CAPE AT 8:30. WE HAVE 2 SAILS SET TO HELP OUR 6 KNOT ENGINE ALONG. NOW IN WARD HUNT STRAIT. 9:15 A.M. TEA + SANDWICHES + CAKE WHICH MOLLY SENT DOWN THIS MORNING. EVERYONE IS SPRAWLED OUT ON THE DECKS CATCHING UP ON SLEEP. FROM NOON TO ONE WE DODGED IN + OUT OF REEFS + SANDBANKS ABOUT MILE OR TWO OFF SHORE. WATERS POORLY CHARTED. ONE MAN UP THE MAST AS LOOKOUT. ABOUT 30 ON BOARD. MANEAO + GOROPU ARE LOOM- ING UPHEAD. WE GET TO BAIWA ABOUT 4:30. CHANGE OF PLAN, WE ARE PICKING OUR WAY IN THRU THE REEF TO VILLAGE OF MEDINO, ARRIVED AT 3:30. ANCHORED OFF MOUTH OF SMALL RIVER. WENT ASHORE FOR A WALK. LATER AFTER DINNER ON THE BOAT I WENT ASHORE YACKING WITH ISILELE + LIK-LIK. I SHOT THE LARGEST BANDICOOT I'VE EVER SEEN. WE HAD TO TRAIL HIM FOR SHORT DISTANCE IN GRASS. SPOTTED THE RED EYES OF A CROCODILE AT ENTRANCE OF RIVER. KEN SHOT HIM FROM CLOSE UP WITH #6 BUT HE DIVED UNDER DINGHY. SLEPT ON BOARD. VERY COOL + COMFORTABLE. PUT MY LOT ON THE HATCH.