K. Amerman 1964 Martin Otoll back up the crew asked "Already?" and Ashton replied disgustedly "Yeh, the ---- is sinking!" All of us went in to Bautaistasi about 2 P.M., towing the 3 officers by their canoe. We were greeted by the usual crowd. They didn't know we were coming, which explained the first question asked, "What is wrong?". Several of the men and boys seemed particularly amazed by our raft. One asked if he could feel our tube. Somewhat taken aback, we said yes and he went to work feeling and probing the raft. We left George, Harry, Dave, Chris and set out for Kotaba Inlet across the lagoon by the pass. Bimón attempted to shoot a Crested Tern on the way, thereby discovering that we had no ammunition. We detoured back to the ship, found "it still aboard," and continued. We arrived on the island about 4 p.m. The island was cut in two vegetated parts; both with high thin trees. These were possibly Pisonia, perhaps not. Pomphix grew in the cut only. A little Saccosta, Messerschmidia, Guettarda or Polypodium, Opona, "gears and one or two