Saturday 4 April 1953 Menapi. Made up 2 "foxes" while David and the 2 boys went out hunting. David came back with a new kind of Cuscus--small and brown with white under pts ex- tending only to pouch--1 pouch young. A small boy "Sebastian" brought in another ♀ same species. David shot his Cuscus in a tree--asleep. 1 broad-nosed bat brought in by men--gave him a stick of tobacco. Isilele found 2 small mice in forest--may be young of Melomys. We all skinned this P.M. Isilele still pulling legs off mice. Tony Skewes and another patrol officer (O'Sullivan) came in from Baniara. Had a drink while I was shooting bats. In good form tonight. Shot 5 Miniopterus on the wing--one has a bright chin marking of fox brown. May only be color phase of uniformly colored one. Took a picture of David climbing coconut for the ♂fox that would not fall down today. He is a good c climber. Took my first picture of grass skirts. Several snakes came in from small boys and men today: tree; python; black; and a lovely brown with very distinct scallation. Natives bring them in with a stick split at one end to pin neck. One of our native neighbors brought me a pineapple--gave him some Nescafe. Gave the boy who brought the Cuscus a large cracker and a roll of life savers. (lollies). Took picture of Geoff, tree snake and small fry. A comfortable day with Trades. Moon is up and a few foxes are about. Boys are all singing. Sunday 5 April Our wedding anniversary (18th). Easter Sunday and singing from the Mission Church could be heard while I sat at the skinning table. The Hal. chorus was lovely. Spent a busy day. Had a new kind of Rattus in my traps this A.M.--large with short tail and hind foot. Made the brown Cuscus into a study skin. Put all the Miniopterus in formalin except the brown-ruffed specimen. We welcomed a boat in from Samarai--"Betty Ann" about 1:30 P.M. My first mail from home! Letter #4 from Key (sent Mar 18) with clippings. Letter from Don and Miss Grobe with all the latest Museum news . Note from Dusty and Ailes. We took time out and had a real reading session. Tom Gilliard's Geographic article arrived. Spectacular pictures. Native came in with 4 Dobsonia. Had to explain that we could collect easily ourselves (but I took them). To dinner at Mrs. Hobart Spiller's home. She put on a real spread: soup, scrub turkey, native "asparagus", Yorkshire pudding, onions, peas, pot., jello and ice cream! and iced cake, cordial and ginger beer. Could hardly move. Sitting room is on 2nd floor--very cool--no netting. Mrs. S. is a Papuan with strong feelings against the Mission. She has a copra plantation and Bill Mason handles business while Mr. S. is away. Home to write letters to Kay (on boat to Bermuda) and T. D. Carter. A lovely soft night with moon rising late. Monday 6 April Menapi. "Betty Ann" left with our mail & stereo #3. Another busy day. The boys brought in 2 Melomys--we had a banana rat from the day before plus the 4 Dobsonia (fruit bats) which one of the villagers shot for me. Boys working well as a team now. Had skins and skulls out drying--unpinned a few skins--a good drying day. It is blowing SE tonight--splitting a bit--no stars out. Had an interested audience off and on during the day. Girls, small boys, old men. They get quite a kick out of watching the various steps, but they can't really understand why I am collecting (nor can some Montclair people)! Explaining a Museum is difficult. This is Holy Monday--a holiday here. About 3 o'clock some of the villagers started passing, all dressed in dancing costume--head, arm and leg dresses. Some with tails. Had long hour-glass drums. A big dance on the Mission soccer field tonight. All the girls in their best skirts. Talked with Father Chisholm--says dance may go on all night. Our boys busy making ornaments out of palm leaves and flowers. Let them off early this P.M. No jacking tonight. Too much wind for bats. Geoff and I are