Thursday 7 May 1953 (cont) lands. Heard none. Track goes thru some rain F. Len had good collecting. Shower at 4:00. Summit of Maneao now clear (5:30). Going out for Wallaby soon and jacking tonight. As I write in the doorway of rest house, I can look down on the tiny village--1/2 dozen thatch huts and 4 copra drying platforms. Also a native mission hut. Pigs, dogs, & children playing & prowling around. Kim has just finished making bread. Out from 6 to 7 P.M.--heard 2 Wallaby-- did not see. Couple of shots at bats--no luck. Home. Good dinner of veg. soup, squash, white potatoes & apricot mash & a cup of Nestle's coffee. David and Lik Lik went out together and Losima out with me 8 to 10:30. Wallabies in grass all around but never saw even an eye. Signal by thumping feet on ground. Also jacked thru rain forest--again no eyes. Heard tube- nosed bat. Foxes feeding in high trees. Disappointing evening for all. Friday 8 May Baiawa. Fine sleep. Did not get up until almost 7:00. No traps. Nothing to skin. Working trap swag out; strung up, adjusted and divided up traps for tonight. Will put out 30. 1/3 in rain forest and 2/3 in grass. Maneao clouded up (11:00). Sea breeze from the north. My boys out scouting this A.M. Len sorting out his plants. Jimmy now working for Geoff. Geoff out collecting. I am the man of leisure this A.M. for a change. Fire for cooking smoldered thru dirt base & charred up kitchen floor. Kim has rebuilt hearth. Put my traps out about mid-afternoon. Back at 4 P.M. just as it started to shower. Out at 5:30 but another shower soon drove me home. Word came in by runner from Biniguni that Ken had arrived with carriers safely--all loads o.k. Had trouble persuading men to go on from Kwagira. However, all ended well. Carriers are now supposed to return & start out with us at daybreak Tuesday. 8:00 P.M. and raining again--guess there will be no jacking tonight. I joined Len and Geoff at rum before dinner tonight--but I took my few drops in a table- spoonful of sugar. They don't approve of my drinking habits! Asparagus soup with croutons, curried beef on rice, squash & white potatoes, chutney--desert plums. Geoff shot a 4 ft brown snake with black head--in rain forest this P.M. Quite proud of it. Len got another good collection of grassland plants. Several hornbills flew over. Many small birds alight on top fronds on coconut trees. Saw high tight flocks of parrots (?) moving inland (SE) at dusk. Saw same species come over in A.M. one day. Many moths coming to light trap tonight. Native came to boys' house this A.M. with betel nuts to trade. They are all singing tonight. Saturday 9 May Baiawa Maneao beautifully clear early in A.M. Shaved and sent boys out for walkabout with guns--hoping for Wallaby, of course. Started up the Kwagira track at 9:00 A.M. Coconuts end a few hundred yds. SW of town and after track goes thru small patch of rain forest, it comes out in savannah grassland. From grassy knolls you can see whole sweep of Maneao and Moi Biri Bay. Signs of Wallabies everywhere. Saw 1 (75 yds) on way home. [CRISIS WHEN I REACHED CAMP: LEN HAD RECEIVED RADIO FROM DR.CARVER SAYING THAT MARIE WAS VERY ILL. David had a fine day! He came in this A.M. with small grey Cuscus. Then in P.M. he shot our first Wallaby (where I walked in A.M.) I skinned Wallaby in front of audiende of boys. One was very helpful & quick. Later village men came up & waited for me to finish. They made fire & threw the body, tail and testicles on to to roast. It didn't cook long--they chopped it up with a bush knife & either wolfed it or took it home. Early tonight David came in with a second Wallaby-- this a young male! Everyone very quiet tonight. Drizzling. No jacking. Good moth and beetle night.