Sunday 16 August 1955 Peria River Camp (cont.) Issued more traps to boys: D. 40; L.L. 40; I. 40; Kim 5; Losima 5; myself 20. Still have a few Museum Specials left. Father Rogers sent a note saying he would take out any mail we had ready tomorrow. Wrote Avice to thank her for ship- board pictures (The Garth, Bath Rd., Chippenham, Wilts, England). Everyone out collecting today. Ken shot 2 pigeons for dinner tonight. Cooked in pressure cooker--good. Shot 2 Hipposideros over river junction. This is a wonderful spot for frogs. David shot at a pig. Monday 17 August Only 2 Rattus and 1 Melomys in traps. Both Hipposideros had large single embryos. Father Rogers at our invitation had lunch with us on way back to coast. Very pleasant meal. He left a few limes & 4 eggs with us that had been given to him at the native mission station. Made up skins. Quite a bit of thunder in P.M. but no rain here. Ken is cooking up a plan to combine a carry to Baiawa and a visit to Tapio to visit the caves. He will sample the bats there & look over the small boat anchorage in preparation for our planned trip there on way back to Samarai. Cool breeze this P.M. but overcast. Shot 2 more Hipposideros at dusk. Jumped a Bandicoot while jacking but it got away from me in underbrush. Isilele and I were following the old government track (to Budumaga) which comes into the river junction just at our camp site in the fork. Tuesday 18 August Our first water rat of the trip sniffed at the bait on 1 of my traps, was clinked on the head & rolled over & expired by the side of the trap. About 30 yards from water. David had a small Bandicoot -- our first for this camp. Geoff's boys brought in about 200 frogs last night & he has been labelling all morning. Losima was washing clothes in a river pool near camp when a Cassowary walked across the stream bed a few yards away. He was so excited and amazed at the size that he could only wave his arms up and down. Ken rushed around trying to find his gun and ammo--too late, fortunately. Len says G. liver is excellent. Wrapped study skins in P.M. Another box full for Ken to take to Baiawa tomorrow. The Government patrol officer, Peter O'Sullivan, his native police and carriers came down the track from Biniguni at noon. He stayed for lunch and for a long talk. Left about middle of P.M. for Kwagira. He had carried in a bottle of rum for L. & G. and a bottle of ginger beer for me. Had a slight stomach upset and went to bed early. Diodoquin fixed me up quickly. We had fried eggs for breakfast. Opaigwari boys brought in 8 more Pogonomys. Wednesday 19 August New Rattus in traps. Makes 12 species for this camp. Made up Pogonomys. Carriers arrived at 9 A.M. Waited out a heavy shower & were off at 9:45 for Moi Biri landing. Peter & Ken planned to canoe over together. 2 striped possums were brought in today--paid 2 boxes matches, 1 razor blade & 3 sheets of news- paper apiece. Later some boys brought in 6 Pogonomys in a big gourd. Took Niko jacking with me tonight. Flying Foxes up river but did not get any. Saw a small rat swimming in pool. Went up bank & among tree roots. May be something very good. Will trap for it tomorrow. A little further on we saw what we thought was Wallaby crossing the river bed. Turned out to be a Giant Bandicoot--31 inches long & weighed 10½ pounds ! We could hardly believe our eyes. Feeling fine today. Native caught eel in front of camp & roasted it in coals of his fire. Thursday 20 August