Wednesday 1 April 1953 Menapi. Ran my new trap line—nothing. However, the 3 boys with a new line in the big scrub came thru with 3 Rattus and 5 Melomys (large). Spent A.M. making skins; finished about 3:00 P.M. Geoff and I walked up brook looking for small fish in pools. Plenty. G. fired .410 into shallows—no good. An excellent spot for poisoning. Went on up stream to the wild fig, where we watched them feeding last night. Strung net up and cleared undergrowth. Noticed some flies buzzing and sure enough there was a bat that I shot last night. A real prize! Took him home and made up before supper. Kim and Losima brought in a cuscus that they spotted while out walking. Then David came in from baiting traps with another Cuscus—alive. Went jacking up stream and ended up at net. One more bat! Len and G. to Mission to say good-bye to Miss Kinear. Hot shower. Thursday 2 April Menapi. The 3 boys skinned the 2 cuscus in the A.M. Did a good job but slow. 1 Rattus and 2 Melomys in David's rain forest trap line. This P.M. while baiting his traps he found a small q Bandicoot in one of tall grass sets. Came home and 'skinned it out. Before skinning this A.M. I lined up my boys, also Losima and Kim, for a picture. There was a great fuss made about getting the most colorful flowers and leaves. Len had a long walk today—did not arrive home until 12:30 P.M. Nothing in net this A.M. or in trap line. However, the long-tongued little Fruit Bat makes up for a lot. This is the first score for the net that I bought from Sanborn at Chicago. Early this evening we had a steady rain. Cleared and we watched moon rise. Shot at small bats in front of house tonight. Hit one very small bat (score 3 for wing shots). Winged a larger bat but did not come down. The boy brought limes in and we now have a bottle of juice for limeade. Mission boat left A.M. for Dogura and then goes on to Samarai with our mail. Len and I plan to go east to a small village where there are bat-caves—next Tues. Return Friday on same boat (Ruru) that will be bringing Ken home from Maneao. Caves are in limestone and are supposed to be quite extensive. Hope they produce! Looked in coconuts close to house for "foxes" and squirrels. Foxes few tonight or very quiet. Must get today's skulls out of Len's botanical dryer. Since I am last one to bed, I also take Geoff's light bug jar down for the night. Friday 3 April Menapi. Good Friday. Very strictly kept by the Mission. Our boys had a holiday today and were unison singing and beating on tin cans in A.M. Father Chisholm came down and asked Len to keep them quiet until 3:00 P.M. since the day is one of silence and fasting. Made up our Bandicoot and bat. Put specimens out under fly to dry. Many of the girls and boys were crowding around to see them. One, Arthur, offered to show us some good hunting trails—said we should be out between 6 and 7 P.M. Says there is a big white cuscus here, also a Bandicoot with black eye rings. Completely reorganized my collecting and storage boxes today. Took most of afternoon. No mammals in traps this A.M. Took up my traps and reset 15 in grass in P.M. Nothing more in bat net. Tonight I shot 2 flying foxes (y. mantle) fighting in coconut tree—one came down and 0 stayed up. David wanted to climb up but I prefer to have him do it tomorrow in daylight. We opened a 5 man combat 1 day ration kit today: cocoa, string beans, meat balls and spag., jam, crackers, beef stew, candy bars, chewing gum, and a few other items. We had Bill Mason the trader down for dinner tonight. The Trades have been blowing steadily all day and it is still lovely and cool tonight. A very low surf and a waning moon. Saw white Cockatoos and Hornbills and a beautiful white-headed hawk (redish wings) today.