Thursday 6 August 1953 (cont.) River Camp broad-nosed bats. Ken paid them off with salt, matches, paper & salt which they take to their families. It was a sight to see them coming in with bats clutched in fists & bats dangling from bits of vine. I was just as excited as they were, but wondered if I would ever get a chance at my mail. Saved a few specimens out to make up dry tomorrow. Read the latest "Time" (July 6) after dinner & then wrote letters & addressed 3 color films. 225 specimens for the day. It was good of Ken to go out of his way to do this favor for me. Friday 7 August Nothing in traps but we had a few bats & rats to make up from yesterday. Our mail runner arrived back from Baniara, also with mail (from Kay & Dory--a fine long letter). Finished skins late in P.M. & after dinner I spent several hours cataloging. Lik Lik and Isilele out jacking but home early--no luck. David & Kim out also but Ken suspected them of visiting in village & not jacking. So we waited up for them. Finally home about 11:30 but would admit nothing. The other boys knew where they had gone but insisted that they were jacking across the river. Ken was just about to send all the boys out in the forest to search for them when Kim & David showed up--from the direction of Biniguni. We are trying to guard against their stirring up any trouble in the villages (women) which might upset our carrier agreements. Ailsa sent me 6 chocolate bars! Saturday 8 August Only 3 Rattus in camp, but 2 small boys showed up with a Flying Fox (Dobsonia). Finished these up & spent the P.M. unpinning, wrapping, & packing another black box full of skins to be sent down to Baiawa next Monday. Ken and David left late in P.M. to go on a water rat hunt that the chief had organized for my benefit (and for salt!). They may spend the night. I don't know how far away the streams are but they are west of here and run into the Maiu River. Details tomorrow. My gang showed up just before dinner with 8 more Pogonomys! Am going to bed early tonight. I smell a busy day tomorrow. Bought some Okari nuts for a box of matches--best nuts we have had yet. Kim baked a fine apricot pie tonight. I can't imagine to what genus these water rats belong--they are said to be small. Sunday 9 August Ken arrived back in camp this A.M. after a fruitless water rat hunt. However, they did bring in a Dactylopsila and a tiny sheath-tailed bat. This plus the Pogonomys and 2 Rattus in traps gave me 12 specimens for the day. After lunch Lukim came over from Biniguni with a Wallaby skull--a new one for the collection. We hope to get a complete one before we leave the area. Paid for it with salt. Ken went over Daga names of local animals with Lukim. A Python and a Carpet snake were brought in by village boys for Geoff and just before dinner our boys found a small snake at the river edge which he grabbed with a forceps. Heavy shower for short time this P.M.--our first in some time. The village hunters are back from their pig hunt and plan their feast later this week. Ken may not be able to get carriers for tomorrow. A Government patrol officer, Peter O'Sullivan, may arrive in Biniguni tomorrow and one of the Cape Vogel missionaries may come thru on tour later in week. They need carriers also & it may muss our moving schedule up. We would like to break camp here next Friday. Total specimens for last week 260. Total for first 20 weeks 1302. David, Isilele & LikLik out jacking tonight.