Thursday 13 August 1953 River Camp Our last day at this camp & a busy one. Boys only had 1 Rattus in river traps-- no water rats. Also 2 Rattus in local traps. Wrapped all dry skins and packed 3 boards with pinned out material. Gauze wrapped all formalin specimens. Re- packed all my black boxes & boys lashed them to poles for carriers. Late in P.M. a few boys came in with 15 Pogonomys, 10 small bats & a live striped Possum (Dactylnax) which I was glad to have--only my 3rd for the trip. I will skin him tomorrow at our new camp. I had to break out the formalin again to save the rats and bats. This should run my total close to 1400 now. Should have at least 1500 before we leave for Samarai. Once we leave tomorrow we will really be saying good bye to Maneau. A heavy rain is coming down & Ken is worrying about whether or not carriers will show up tomorrow or not. They have never failed him yet. He has really done a remarkable job for us. His command of the language, his understanding & liking for the natives have made our road easy. We also have plenty of tobacco and salt! and newspaper. Good night, darling. I'll be closer to home tomorrow! Friday 14 August Gwariu River Camp to Peria River Camp. 7:30--Biniguni at 7:50; Budumaga at 8:10; Opaigwari at 8:40; Peria River 9:20. Up early, flys & tents down, folded & packed. Carriers started coming in early. More than enough. Ken has done it once again. Kim & I started off ahead. Partly cloudy but the humidity was high so the walking was hot. Last close views of the escarpment--shrouded in clouds. Ken & Geoff arrived about 20 minutes later & Len about 10:00. This carry was a picnic for the men & they arrived at the river singing. Pay off lasted about an hour & I took what pictures I could at 3.5 and 1/25. I skinned and made up the striped possum that I bought last night. Boys also caught 2 Melomys while clearing camp site in the fork between the 2 rivers. When we came thru here in May the water was running 2 feet deep, but now there is only a trickle in the Peria. Water is filtered thru sand and is good drinking water. Ken & boys rigged camp most of day. Ken and I are camped off on the west bank where we get the morning sun & afternoon shade. Police runner came in with mail. Letters from Mother, Don Carter & Don Vernon. Wrote to Mother & Kay. Runner staying over night. No jacking or traps tonight. Women brought in loads of vegetables after dark from Opaigwari--wonderful Taro and pumpkin tops for greens. Also some beautiful sugar cane (red). Geoff and I found a good swimming hole and had a good soap & soak. Saturday 15 August Peria River Camp Today we saw our first white man in months. The missionary, Father Rogers, from Mukawa on the north side of the Cape Vogel Peninsula. He came down to Baiawa by sailing outrigger and came up the track on way to Opaigwari. We had met him for a few minutes back in Menapi when he & Father Chisholm came back from a patrol. Stayed for morning tea and then pushed on. From Sydney. A very likeable man-- young. Did up the Pogonomys. Fixing camp most of day. Boys built a good pata pata and work bench for the mammal department. We put out 10 traps each. Good bat flight over river bed. Shot 1 tiny sheath tail before dinner (same as the ones from Biniguni area). Jacked with Isilele and shot a Hipposideros on trail. Collected a striped Possum on way home. David saw a Wallaby and a Bandicoot but no luck. However, he did find a small bat caught in a bush. I do not know the genus but it has golden hairs down the arms and legs and fur is tri-colored like a Pipistrellus. New for the collection. Read & talked late with Ken. Sunday 16 August A quiet day in camp--it really seemed like Sunday. Made up specimens.