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altitndes. I shall make canvas 'sea-boots' for the boj's this time before we 

 start. I am goiii^' to try very hard for the male of that hairy Troides, and am 

 taking up a i|aantity of trade goods and gear to induce the natives to help. I 

 am rather off colour at present through loss of blood. The doctor was in this 

 morning, and managed to stop the bleeding somewhat. I must have lost a quart 

 of blood during the night. If I don't get better I shall not leave for New Guinea 

 by this boat." 



Fortunately Mr. Meek recovered sufficiently to leave Queensland. His uext 

 letter came from Sariba Island, Samarai, British New Guinea, dated August lUth. 

 " I have not started for the mountains as yet. I was away last week looking 

 for boys, but without success. I have been very unwell lately ; in fact, I don't 

 think I shall be fit for much more knocking about without a good long change 

 of climate, which I hope will set me np again. During the first day I was 

 away by myself looking for boys I was sick all the time. I wish it were possible 

 for me to send some one in my place on this next mountain trip 1 I should 

 like to get well up in altitude before the birds commence moulting. As I iiinl 

 a good deal of new gear made while I was in Queensland last month, we shall 

 be better equipped and start under better conditions than previously, knowing 

 the language a bit and the natives, besides having my previous experience, 

 which is all worth a great deal. I am also taking a new assistant, though I 

 have as yet my doubts whether he will be of much good to me." 



On October 1 7th Mr. Meek writes from the Aroa River: "I am now fairly 

 on my way to the high mountains, coming this time cut Yule Island. It has 

 taken us one long day by canoe up the inlet, two days by drays (per sandalwood 

 getter), and four days by boat. Of course it is the delay everywhere in getting 

 carriers which eats up the time. Since I started recruiting collectors for tins 

 trip just two months and a half have elapsed, and I do not expect to be in camp 

 at the high altitudes before three weeks at the earliest. Please send me some 

 more boxes for insects. I shall most likely come up again, as there is no great 

 point in losing so much time for one collection only— though I want very badly 

 to come home next year. It is strange how one's blood gets so bad out here. 

 A week ago I foolishly struck a native with my hand (instead of taking a lump 

 of wood), and accidentally struck his teeth. Now I have a beautiful hand that 

 may take months to heal. Some years ago you sent me a sketch of a beautiful 

 Delias which has a large orange patch on the underside of the hindwing, with 

 a black dot in it, and of which I got only one specimen last time.* The reason 

 for that, I find, was that we were too high. I have noticed several specimens 

 lower down than this place. AVe are yet two days below my camj) of the first 

 trip. It will take us as long as that on account of the difficulty of procuring 

 carriers. C>f course the higher we get the quicker we shall travel, as the population 

 is more numerous and the natives are more willing to carry, owing to their want 

 of trade goods. I shall try to stay four months this time, health permitting. 

 But it is very wet up there, and cokl and miserable. It can't be too healthy to 

 have the blankets soaking wet every night, and almost to have to wring them out 

 every morning I The birds are all starting to moult, I find, so I doubt if I shall 

 do much in that way this time. Besides, I haven't any of my regular South Sea 

 shooting boys with me, whom I have had for so many years. I find my previous 

 knowledge of the language of the very greatest help. I am taking two natives 



* Deltas albert isi iteiji. 



