Monday 10 August 1953 River Camp Poor trapping--2 Rattus & 1 Melomys. No carriers showed up. Ken and I went into Biniguni at 1:00 P.M. Boys brought Box 39 full of study skins over to rest house. Finished packing skull box #28. Both light so they were lashed together to make a double load. Counselor and other men came over to talk to Ken. They have agreed to make the carry to Moi Biri Bay tomorrow. My boys came back to camp and I gave them each 10 steels and 15 rats. David walked over to Maiu River with them to show spots for water rat trapping. A long walk but a couple of night's trapping should turn up something of interest. Also sent over 10 Museum specials for Ken to use in rest house. My gang brought in 11 more Pogonomys this afternoon--cost, 8 boxes of matches & some newspaper. Another native brought Geoff a large Python. Out jacking tonight for an hour. Shot at two small bats in trail. Heard Flying Foxes. Heavy shower in late P.M. Had a good bath in river--with small boys looking on with great interest. Tuesday 11 August My boys were off at 7:30 to run their traps on the Maiu River. Did not get back to camp until 10:30. Nothing important--2 species of Rattus that we have taken here near camp. While we were at lunch a native from Budumaga came in with 4 Hipposideros which I bought with paper & matches. They are slightly larger than the ones from Maneaoca & have longer tail but most measurements are the same. A narrow, light colored eye ring was conspicuous. I also received 2 Pogonomys that the village boys found in a tree near camp. 4 more of the same arrived late in P.M. 11 carriers came in early to take excess food down to the next village on the track to the coast. Ken's carriers had a dry day for the trip to the Coast. Gear should be in rest house in Baiawa by now (8 P.M.). There is only 1 tide per day on this coast and it was supposed to be high around 5 P.M. Canoes can only come up the creek at high water to the landing. Made up 11 skins today & finished just at dusk. Had a refreshing bath in the river which gave me a good appetite for pigeon soup, flaked crab meat (bought from native who came up from coast--we boiled the crabs--Geoff was going to pickle 2 as specimens but relented), pigeon stew, yam, squash, sweet potato & stewed apricot. A delegation of Maisina tribe men & women arrived in Biniguni today from the Cape Nelson area. Women wear cloth skirts instead of grass skirts and many have cropped hair or shaved heads. They make tapa cloth for trade. Dance tonight. Wednesday 12 August Boys off early to bring in traps from the Maiu. Only 2 Rattus. Had 1 Melomys in my trap line. 2 of "my gang" brought in 8 more Pogonomys. Geoff was down river with his boys netting fish in A.M. Had a good catch. Saved a few for specimens, but they turned over most of them to cook for lunch. They were #1. Ken & David arrived back in camp at 2:30 P.M. from Baiawa. All gear down at rest house safely. Shot 2 large pigeons on way home--cooked in pressure cooker for dinner. Delicious white meat. Niko, LikLik,Isilele and I went down the Gwariu stream bed to set 30 water traps for water rats. There are a number of cascades that tumble down the escarpment & end in deeps pools before flowing into the Gwariu or Maiu. The cascade of Biniguni Creek at old Biniguni village is a lovely run of water. We set our traps along the quiet pools & reaches. Had my sneakers on & did a good deal of wading. Saw junction of M. & G. & followed a flower-flower trail home. About a 2 hour jaunt. Home for a good swim in river. The rum and good fellowship flowed more freely tonight & the dinner was excellent. No jacking & home too late to bait traps. Heavy shower in P.M. Clear tonight.