Sunday 23 August 1953 (cont) Peria River Camp brought in a young Cassowary he had caught. When he found out that I did not want it, he sold it to the boys for a tin of tapered meat. The boys certainly had the best of that bargain! Kim cooked a piece of the liver & served it on buttered toast at tea time--absolutely delicious! Moon will be full [illegible] tomorrow . Frogs and night birds in full chorus. Monday 24 August Full moon--a soft-aired beautiful night. Isilele and I walked down trail to the next river crossing, arriving there about 5:45 P.M. We waited until 6:15 before we started home jacking along the way. Shot small bat at river but we could not find it in tall grass. Saw one of the giant frogs and heard several more-- all giving their off-key duck call. Dobsonia all thru the woods. They are well adapted to hovering in tight places. Kim & Losima were waiting (8 P.M.) with my hot dinner! 2 kinds of fish and a boiled prawn--Geoff and my boys netted them this afternoon--delicious. Soup, of course, then curry rice and chutney, sweet potatoes & taro, mixed apricots and bananas for dessert--and tea. I'm gaining weight again. Only 2 lm. Rattus in traps. Native from Awani was using "native dynamite"--a vine root--to poison the isolated pools in the river bed. He kept the larger fish & I collected the smaller ones for the Museum--one resembled a pipe fish and another small one had vertical scarlet streaks on the sides. The root is pounded between stones & thrown into the pool. 2 small boys brought me 15 of the large Hipposideros--found in hollow tree. Tuesday 25 August Only 2 Rattus in traps. However, I had 13 bats that the small boys brought in last night. I made up 8 of these. Ken arrived back in camp from his trip to the bat cave at Tapio. Brought in bats with him--2 species: small Dobsonia and the brown & white checkered bat (Rhinolophus?) that we found at Dabora. Saw no small bats. Large Dobsonia was there too. A 2 hour rugged walk from the village. Geoff's boys and mine netted fish in the running river on the Kwagira trail. Two of them were of good size & Kim cooked them for dinner. Ken also had a pigeon and scrub hen to contribute & Kim had baked an apricot pie--what a dinner! Jacking tonight for an hour. Shot a Uromys 20 yds. from camp--right in the head. David also brought in a Uromys. Ken is planning to move our gear out of camp on Sept. 7 to Baiawa. Wednesday 26 August Rain set in after breakfast & lasted until dinner. 4 Rattus from traps. Finished up specimens after lunch & then went to tent to read, nap & natter with Ken. Baited traps & shot a new bat for the camp--a Miniopterus. No jacking--woods are dripping wet. Stars are out & moon is coming up. 9 P.M. and I'm in bed again. Geoff is last man up. A welcome lazy day. Thursday 27 August Our best trap night at this camp--7 Rattus of 2 species. And this P.M. my small boys brought me 3 Petaurus from near Opaiwari. Went jacking down river in the stream bed tonight. On way home I was passing a shallow pool & I heard a splash: there was a Hydromys wading, probably looking for prawns. This is only 2nd one for trip--an adult male. Saw at least half dozen giant frogs: they sit up on branches above water--eye shine very bright. Also found a band-tailed Gecko for Geoff. A dry day in camp. Everyone out collecting. Liklik put out new trap line.