28. Monday, 8 March 1948. This day occupied mainly with routine things, getting soil ready for mailing, some small purchases of [illegible] of equipment and finally a call on Samuel Allen & Sons, rival firm to Burns, Philip, and local representatives of John Burke Shipping Company. They represent also Lloyd's and Lumley's and Spence of Brisbane, had sent them a letter about me. They have a reputation for being able to get hard-to-get items so I put them on the job of finding an 18" camp oven, a thing that B-P had failed on. They are to let me know in two days. The manager, Mr. Bedowsky, called in about 6 PM for a drink or so, and in general they seem much more anxious for business and much more obliging than B-P. I have opened an account with them for possible future eventualities. In the evening George and Van arrived back, after having had fair luck in their collecting. After dinner took their specimens over to the space in the museum allotted to us and worked on them for some time, after which we all turned in. Tuesday, 9 March 1949. This morning it was decided that Van and I would go either tomorrow or the next day to Mossman, pitch our camp in the Gorge at the power plant, and stay there for five or six days, or until the Time seems somewhat nearer Cairns. She was reported as still being unloaded at Mackay in the morning paper, but it did say that as she was carrying food, the wharfies would start work unloading her. Since for all these side trips, we have to purchase equipment until our own stuff comes in, today was spent in a flurry of purchasing of collecting gear. Tow, for the filling of specimen bodies, is not available at all and we have had to purchase hemp rope and unravel it. My foot caved in and I have had to contrive some sort of pad. Other things had to be bought and there was no time to get ready for departure tomorrow; instead we shall leave on Thursday. The Naturalists' Club held another meeting this evening, at which George spoke, making a comparison, scientifically, of Australia and South America, not so much comparing the countries, but describing how the natural denizens of each country happened to get there. Tomorrow, for us, will be spent getting supplies for the trip, food, etc., and cleaning up this day's journal, ready for mailing before I leave for Mossman. There is a lot to be done here still, cataloguing specimens already brought in, both as gifts by the locals and the things in my departments that George and Van have brought in from their jaunts, but I don't quite know when I shall be able to get at it. Also bought three second-hand bicycles for our use on the trails on the Cape, if and when we get away from Cairns. Wednesday, 10 March 1948. It has been a rushed morning and afternoon but I want to get this closed and ready for mailing. Van and I will probably be in the Mossman River Gorge for seven or eight days, unless something unexpected in the way of a break in the strike should arrive. There is nothing in the morning paper to indicate any such thing. Had to purchase not only rations for us but also camp utensils, cutlery and cooking outfit, all due to the strike and tie-up of our stuff. We leave Cairns at 7.55 tomorrow morning and should reach our camp site, at the electric plant, shortly after noon. It will not take long to get the tent up and a meal prepared, after which we shall get to work. Our traps are few and our armament one old shot-gun with a hole in the barrel, other than the muzzle, and no safety catch. It is crude equipment but we'll do what we can.