Thursday 27 August 1953 (cont). Peria River Camp Ken was on the go every little while shooting pigeons. We had 1 for lunch & a large one for dinner--boys also had one. Oma came down from Awani with Okari nuts. We sail for Samarai 2 weeks from today. Friday 28 August Down to 2 Rattus in traps. Len sent Niko in to camp about 10:00 asking for his shot gun and dust. He had found 3 tiny bats hanging under a fan palm leaf. Shot 1--turned out to be the sheath-tail, I shot first night here. Sun came out for a while today but it is raining again tonight. Ken and I went out jacking on a new trail that Geoff is cutting west to the Rakua River. Very closed in with wicked thickets of "Lawyer vine". Shot 1 Melomys on ground and a long-tailed Kingfisher that I thought was a bat. Also fired at a Flying Squirrel in large tree. Don't think he came down. Rain sent us home. Had lamp going all day in tent. Skins drying very well. Saturday 29 August The end of our 23rd week of field work. Specimen total 1547. And this P.M. (late) David came in with Dorcopsulus, the lowland scrub Wallaby that has eluded us for the past few weeks. A young male, blue gray pelage, long-faced, short thick tail. Only 2 young Rattus this A.M.--both caught in the same trap. However, some Biniguni boys brought in a Melomys and 4 Pogonomys. Packed a black box to go out on next Monday's carry to Kwagira. Wrapped all my wet specimens for shipment. Also wrapped 40 dry study skins. The lamp burning in the tent each day has helped the drying. Police runner in with local mail from Samarai. No particular news. Bought more vegetables using salt. Pigeon (fine flavor) and a wonderful baked Taro for dinner tonight. No jacking. Wrote Harold Rugg and "Dory". Sending 1 film out. Ken started opening 12 gauge shells up today trying to devise shot to kill pigeons in high trees. Evidently succeeded because he collected our Sunday night dinner. Geoff still cutting track to the west. Showers & sun today. Sunday 30 August Had the camp to myself this A.M. Len, Geoff & Ken went up to Opaigwari to take pictures of dancers who have been our carriers. Men from Biniguni came too. Many had Bird-of-Paradise head dresses. My boys and I stayed home and worked on specimens. Geoff & Ken back for lunch. We tied up loads for the 10 carriers who arrive tomorrow. Len away all day collecting. Ken shot 2 more pigeons & a scrub hen today. Had them for dinner. Out jacking tonight--took a 3 ft. tree snake home to Geoff. Missed a rat & a bat. David had more luck --he shot a Giant Bandicoot and a Uromys. I shot a Hipposideros before dinner. It has been very humid today with a little breeze now & again. A persistent frog chorus tonight. Bought bamboo pipe & string carrying bag for Anthropology. Monday 31 August Ken's carry down to Kwagira went off without a hitch. Left at 9:30 & back at 12:45. Camp is looking bare--our final carry next Monday will be light. Small boys brought in some lower mandibles--2 Wallabies, white cuscus & a bandicoot. 2 Rattus and 2 Melomys in traps. Lovely day with breeze. Rain late afternoon but not enough to spoil jacking. We hit the jackpot: David shot 3 Bandicoots, I shot 1, and Ken a cuscus and a Uromys. 3 of the bandicoots have pouch young! Geoff cut more trail--still hasn't reached the next river west. Ken is making plans to collect a few mammals for me after we leave Papua. He is very keen on