Looking for strange periodical back of Kepi, New Guinea (9)

'looking for' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being present participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'strange periodical back of kepi new guinea' is the wordplay.
'strange' becomes 'rum' (similar in meaning).
'periodical' becomes 'mag' (abbreviation for magazine).
'back of' suggests the final letters.
'new guinea' becomes 'ng' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
The last letter of 'kepi' is 'i'.
'rum'+'mag'+'i'+'ng'='RUMMAGING'

Can you help me to learn more?