Sunday 27 September 1953 Bolu Bolu (241) Made up 4 bats--2 with embryos. No trap catch. A dull, rather blustery day with a few spits of rain blowing into our windowless "ranch house". We have new trap lines out tonight. Boys have lines along first stream to north. Len had a good day--found 1 tree he can not identify to family. Kim is off visiting his village. Losima's brothers are visiting here in camp. The families of Bobby & Tommy canoe over from Fergusson Island to visit. This is yam planting time; this and bananas most important island crops. Lik Lik out jacking on his own tonight. Shot a c cuscus with 2 pouch young; also a Nyctimene. Isilele & I were out together; shot flying squirrel but we lost it in tall grass--squirrel in tree about 50 yds. from scrub. Found a Nyctimene hanging in small tree; only 1 eye showing--pale yellowish-white--resembled spider eye but not as bright. Wind blowing hard. Monday 28 September (242) My traps had nothing but crabs in them. Only 1 Rattus in other lines. Blue sky patches; wind gusty & strong. Len is plant hunting in big scrub to N.W. of us in the foot hills. Peaks clear early but hidden in cumulus now (11 A.M.) Now that Geoff has left it is my job to issue boys' Kai. Daily: 1 lb. rice; ½ lb. dried peas or wheat meal flour; 1/3 can corned beef; vegetables when we can buy them. Weekly: 3 sticks tobacco; paper; matches; 4 oz. salt; 1 oz.tea; ½ lb. sugar; 1 lb. beef dripping; 2 oz. soap. Jacking was particularly frustrating tonight. I saw 2 Petaurus, a flying fox & a Nyctimene but did not get a shot. Liklik shot twice at a cuscus & once at a bat but missed. Very high wind coming in gusts made hunting difficult. Still hunting out of question. Small bat flew over shed at bath time; had disappeared by time I picked up my gun. This is first small bat I have seen at dusk. Tuesday 29 September (243) Blank for all trap lines. Beautiful day. Took several pictures of the peaks at 6:30 A.M. 1/25 at 6.3 ! Mountain heights are deceptive here; certainly do not look 7 - 8000 feet. White caps on sea. Ken Wynn & Bob Greenley arrived back in camp about 9:30 A.M. Ken brought back a small Wallaby--black with white hair bases; short tail. Caught by dogs. Skin & skull in good condition. Looks like an exciting addition to island's Fauna. Ken had a rough trip--rain, wind & thick scrub above 5000 ft. Did not attempt to climb any of the peaks. Bob had a long scramble from west side of island over the central ridges to join Ken's track down to east coast. Both footsore & glad to be back at base camp. Caretaker's wife brought in small rat caught in her house. More traps out today--now about 100 rat traps out & a few Museum specials--practically all in scrub. 3 parties out jacking: Ken & Tommy, 1 Dobsonia, 1 Nyctimene; LikLik & Bobby, 1 Nyctimene; Isilele & I, 1 Dobsonia. I missed a Nyctimene in flight. We now have 11 species for the island. No sign of Hydromys, Uromys or Bandicoot. Wednesday 30 September (244) Another blank trap night. The 2 Dobsonia & 2 Nyctimenes made up our day's catch. We all sat down in the A.M. & worked out our requirements for our mountain trip. Ken believes we will have no trouble with carriers. All very friendly. Bob Greenley staying here today hoping that a mission boat will show up to return him to Esa-Ala. Went jacking down to coconut plantation ; saw 2 Nyctimenes, shot one. Saw a number of small bats along trail. Should be good shooting at dusk. Ken brought in a young c Cuscus. Fruit & vegetables are coming in now. Very good limes. Gave Bob an Army ration dinner for a send-off.