Tuesday 6 October 1953 (cont). Wakonai to Garuwata The first spur was the worst. Then we started side hill traveling along narrow trails in grass & stones. My cord-soled boots were perfect for the dry track. Crossed 2 small streams which were life-savers. Sun hot even at 8 A.M. against side hills (rises 5:30 now). Garuwata River has a beautiful split waterfall-- we were high above it. Other smaller falls on peak slopes. Arrived Garuwata 9:45. Spelled for an hour while carriers cooked rice & we rested. During morning we passed several low stone platforms whith elongated stones erected around perimeter (few left upright). Houses on stilts--have notched poles to climb to door. Several women carried for us--all head carry. Left village at 11 A.M. Arrived camp 11:35. Just above rushing brook--very little level ground. Have rigged 2 flys for carriers and 1 tent for the 3 of us. We get our tea on schedule! Clouds low above us but no sign of rain. Took some pictures from camp. We are in tree fern land again. Also umbrella trees with long stems of red flowers--saw them before on Cape York. Now 4:00 P.M. & we are resting & reading. Have comfortable sling bed a la Maneau. Wednesday 7 October Waterfall camp to Top Camp (1580 M.) Left 6:30 A.M. --arrived 9:30 A.M. Had a good sleep. Broke camp & started up a real "goat trail" heading straight up to the top of high spur overlooking the Garuwata River gorge and across to the peaks. I was climbing with my hands as well as my toes part of the time--thru forest all the way to top of spur. Took pictures from several look out points. Clouds below most of time. Covered up beautiful views to east and south. Carriers had hard time for part of climb. Women still with us. Followed knife-edge grass spur to edge of oak & bamboo scrub. Ken had cut trail into forest for about 1/2 mile. Niko & Liklik had 2 flys and 2 tents pitched--good camp with small running stream a few yards away. Hard rain in P.M. Put out 20 M.S. traps close by camp. Ken out jacking for short time--nothing. Garawata policeman and his dog are in camp & will hunt for me for a couple of days. Does not know Dactylopsila from this island. Says there is a small dark Cuscus up here. Bought some lower mandibles from some of carriers--included 1 Bandicoot--makes 14 species for island. Temperature 65° tonight. Thursday 8 October Top Camp No rats. Made up the young Cuscus. Ken and my boys were cutting track & doing camp chores most of day. Boys chopped down tree with hole; however, tree hung up & we never could find out if any Pogonomyes were in residence. Len has a rich collecting ground. The old policeman & his dog were out most of the day. Brought back 2 Dobsonia which he found in holes in rock--not caves according to his story. Ken & I jacked different trails tonight. Both of us saw Nyctimene & heard flying fox, but not a trace of cuscus or ground mammals. Kim baked a fine apricot pie tonight. 75 M.S. traps out tonight. Caught a long-legged tree frog & Niko & Losima 3 tiny frogs near water. Walked back to grass spur in P.M. Beautiful view of sea. Friday 9 October Top Camp First mammal on the mountain was a small Rattus. M.F. 2-2-8, long, fairly soft pelage. Collected ticks on ears. Rained hard for 1/2 the night. In clouds in A.M. Cleared in P.M.; stars out & some wind tonight. Ken & I walked back to grass spur at 5 P.M., watched sun set & jacked back to camp. Saw nothing but Nyctimene. Peaks stark against the sky, sea covered with haze, cumulus heads white & solid. S.W. wind whipped cloud wisps down over our ridge. Looked for birds in undergrowth today but found none. Even birds in tree tops scarce. Many larger birds fly over (pigeons& parrots). Made up 2 Dobsonia--each had 1 embryo. This is certainly a different D.