31701-0062-0001

Port Moresby,
Papua,

14th July 41

My Beloved Daring,
Tonight I am alone. It's a pleasure
to write uninterupted. All the Sgts have gone into Port to see
"Rose of the Rancho" - I prefered to stay home, thinking the rose
may have faded during the last five years.

Some of us went on a 20 mile shooting trip, Sunday. the
trip was a little perilous owing to the grass being still unburnt.
We set out without breakfast taking two boys for convenience.
Within an houe I shot the first victim - a large Torres Strait
pidgeon. Seeing the grass grew in tangled clumps five feet high,
it was suprising to find its body Later, two parrots were
bagged. Wallabies were often heard but seldom seen.
much time found us beside a running stream & coconut palms.
Gosh! was I hungry! The boys almost ran up the palm trees.
No other drink equals these young coconuts. Half way up, my boy
lost his sulu - I had to laugh & I wished you would have seen
his embarassment. the spot resembled an oasis. So cool &
delighful but encircled by hot dry grass lands & hills, the grass
here was lush and green so I had the boy cut me a mattress.
We trekked on to the inlet with its mud & mangroves. Here a
plug of dynamite was thrown into deep water & up floated