57 Large sago swamps occur near Ifar, and much of the land behind the north shore, about the middle secti on of the lake is low lying and swampy. A view of the grass lands from the air confirms my opinion that they are secondary and maintained by burning. According to the Minadonese bestums assistant, Miss Cheesman, on her visit to the lake last year, climbed to an altitude of 700 m. on the south slopes of the Cyclops. He knew of no European who had gone higher. Ernst Meyr claims to have gone to the summit some years back. Probably the top of the Cyclops could be reached from Ifar* in two days with carriers. Natives are said to hunt far up the slopes but not to the summit. A small party could obtain all the requirements from the Chinese stores at Ifar. June 16th. Made some full plate pictures and collected 21 plants in the rain forest near Van Zoiter's homestead. On the deeper soil deposits under limestone cliffs and in saddles and ravines between the hills is good rain-forest of trees of which I recogn nize only one species- a Casuarina. Though tall and carrying some trees of large girth, the forests are apparently poor in species. Selaginella 8830 characterizes a largely herbaceous undergrowth in which the ferns 8826 and Dyopteris 8839 and Leptaspes 8824 are rather abundant. Selaginella and Diplazium 8836 come in on the clayey banks of the Hollandia-Pim road and Begonia 8841 with large tuber- culate leaves and small whitish flowers was collected in the bottom of a shady ravine. Tecomanthe 8823 is common and very conspicuous as a climber in rather open secondary forest xnx or old clearings. The tree fern Cyathea is a feature of th latter community. About 4 PM 3 Navy Fokker patrol planes seaplanes arrived with Capt. Teerink of the expedition military party on board. The Dutch seem very anxious that their prestige be upheld in all matters in connection with this expedition. If the Americans have an aeroplane they must have three. Better diplomacy than is being shown at present on our side will be essential for the preservation of good feeling between the Dutch and American parties.