Thursday 14 May 1953 (cont) (POLICE RUNNER ARRIVED AT 7:30 P.M. WITH CABLE FOR LEN FROM MARIE'S BROTHER, CONDITION SERIOUS BUT DOCTOR MAY BE ABLE TO CHECK AGAIN. TO KEEP LEN ADVISED) Ken and I decided to send up Len's gear--believe he will stay to collect on mt. Ken wrote note to Len for runner to carry up Maneau. Should pick them up fairly early on track. Another snake--short & thick, with trans- verse ventral markings came in this afternoon. (Police runner brought letter from Kay post marked Apr. 28, Montclair--written Apr 26 on "Ocean Monarch". Received in Samarai May 7). No collecting. Our police interpreter will go with carriers. Ken and I will wait for more carriers. No point in my going-- no collecting gear & I would be eating food meant for working party. Friday 15 May Biniguni. Runner with note to Len left at 6:50 A.M. (we learned later that he caught Len at 8 A.M.--fast going!) Everything double-loaded on poles except first aid kit, foralin, specimen can, lamp & clean clothes. Carriers do not like double loads on mt--only on flat, so I expect they will soon change all possible loads. 1 of Geoff's boxes also went up (#38). Ken and I have been waiting all day for further word on additional carriers. This P.M. I walked about 1 mile west to a big, clear, fast running mountain creek--wide gravel bed. No villages above. Close to Maneau ridge. Took pictures. One village councillor came with me, also 2 small boys & Isilele. Tall feather grass & large spikes of yellow flowers on banks. Had my first good drink of water for days. Brought Billy can of water home. A quiet hour or two. Man picked over heads of boys & Isilele took bath. Clouds over sun. Frank gave us a fresh fish from creek. Kim cooked it to perfection for dinner. Kept head in formalin for Museum collection. Bought (for 2 crackers) a bright yellow snake with lavender spots (may be young Pacific Boa) from a village boy. Cleaned skull of cuscus & boys cleaned feet. Ken and I spent night trying to decide on plans for A.M. (Wrote Kay. Sending 3 rolls of film to Flushing.) Fair all day. Saturday 16 May Biniguni. Fair. Another day of waiting and wondering if carriers would arrive. Runner returned from mountain with mail and messages. Len & Geoff reached 5000' yesterday P.M. & camped--both well. (Len has decided not to return to U.S. just yet). Thursday night L & G camped at the "Tea House" (a few poles & some roof leaves)--700 M. Good water there. None again until middle camp. Their carriers changed double loads to singles. Main carrier party had not caught up to them. We sent off the police runner to Baniara about noon-- 3 rolls of my film, letter to Kay; also Len's radiogram & some personal letters. Ken wrote to Bunting's for more rice & trade tobacco. Also to the Patrol Officer, Peter O'Sullivan, at Baniara advising him of the poor carrier situation here at Biniguni. A patrol visit may help us out. Ken also (later) sent Niko and Lik Lik down to Kwagira with a further message for O'Sullivan (runner spending night at Kwagira). In A.M. Ken had sent David & Kim to Wapona to get information on carriers. No helpful news. Brought rumors back that some man had died there due to sorcery on part of someone here in Biniguni. This was the news that Ken thought necessary to send to Peter. It may mix carrier situation up still more. About 4 P.M. we decided to plan to use our remaining boys & ourselves to pack some of my light collecting gear & food up the Mt. so I would not lose more time. Almost finished and 5 carriers walked in from village of Maneau. This is good news for me--will give me enough collecting gear to get a good start at Top Camp. A more cheerful camp tonight. Sunday 17 May