Thursday 20 August 1953 (cont.) Peria River Camp 203 Only a Rattus in traps. Heavy rain from midnight to 3. Sprang traps or spoiled bait—or something. Had the boys skin out the Bandicoot flat. Did a good job. Awani people came down with vegetables which Geoff bought with salt and paper. They also brought a 13'10" Python which his boys skinned. One man brought me a striped possum—have a good series now. Gave the Bandicoot body to the Awani women who washed it in the river & cooked it over boys' fire. In P.M. some young boys showed up from Opaigwari with another Giant Bandicoot (this however weighed only 6 lbs.) and a small broad-nosed bat. Finished them all before dinner. Set traps around pool where I saw water rat. They found Bandicoot in a form under a fallen tree. Jacking tonight yielded nothing. Heard flying foxes but did not have a shot. Home at 9 P.M. and am reading one of Geoff's detective stories for a change. Friday 21 August 204 Nothing in traps. However, I had 2 live Pogonomys from the day before (also 3 more but they gnawed a hole in the black box and departed during the night). Awani and Kwagira people came in with vegetables about noon. Run on salt & paper. Some fine bananas & Taro. About 2 P.M. I took my boys down the Kwagira trail to the first river crossing—fine run of water. Cut over to the Peria—about 200 yds away—also running here (but not at camp). Flood plain area, high grass. Waded up river to camp. Here I found a lot of boys from Opaigwari with specimens for me— Pogonomys, Petaurus, and a lot of small broad-nosed bats. More matches & paper & everyone was happy. Jacking tonight: 1 Dobsonia, saw a small bandicoot, shot a 6 ft. tree snake (new for collection). Police runner came in while I was out. Capt. Smith will be at Baiawa to pick us up on Sept. 16. No mail but a bundle of newspapers. Runner saw Ken at Pem—on way to Tapio. Ruled note book. Have almost 1500 specimens now. Saturday 22 August 205 The end of our 22nd week in the field. We began our work just 5 months ago today at Menapi. Almost 1500 specimens in the book. We had 2 Rattus and a dark Melomys in traps. Made 14 skins up today—kept me at my work bench all day. Poor Geoff got bushed this A.M. and did not get back to camp until 1:30. He walks and walked wasting all that collecting time he could put in on intensive collecting near camp. New insects walk across my skinning board every day. Lovely moon tonight. LikLik found a small cuscus on river bank after dinner. It ran up a tree & Isilele after it. Then it fell out of tree & scampered off thru the forest with Niko, Billy, L.L. and I. in chase—they caught it. Lik Lik is as proud as punch. This is his first jacking specimen. Ken should be at Tapio today. What bats will he find? I. & L.L. have new trap lines. Sunday 23 August 206 Only 1 Rattus in new lines. Tommy had 3 in David's line. These plus a Uromys, 4 Pogonomys and a small bandicoot—all of which were purchased yesterday for matches— and the Cuscus gave me a busy day. While jacking tonight a Cuscus (almost positive) jumped onto the side of a hollow tree and ducked in, peered out for a second & then disappeared. They are very fast, must forage on the ground a lot, so not have the strong cuscus odor. Many "foxes" feeding in tree tops—did not see any. The A.M. was mild and sunny—perfect day for picture taking. A few of the camp, the water course vegetation against the blue sky, and some of natives from Biniguni who came visiting. One boy had his hair all redded up—probably decoration for the dance and feast they had planned to have after getting us & the government patrol out of mind. The same native who sold me the bandicoot yesterday also