58 June 17th. Took a small prow and 2 boys and went to Tabati village to examine the dry lime- stone hills and make pictures. Tabati is a village of perhaps 300 people, built on piles over the water. Most of our local coolies belong there. Was struck by the great number of children in the place. Sago and fish seem to be the chief articles of food. Bananas, taro, sweet-potato, sugarcane, etc., are cultivated on the main- land. Saw only the shore and near shore parts of the interesting dry brushes which cover the limestone along the shore. The rock pale and eroded into a very rough surface. It weathers down to a rich-looking red soil which is deposited in pits and small pockets in which root the trees and shrubs of the gnophitous brushes. Characteristi plants collected near the shores are --Mallotus 8844, Myoporum 8848, Rubriaceae 8849, with crowded small leaves (shrubs), epiphytic Hydnaphytum 8851, Hoya 8843 with beautiful velvet purple flowers, Hoya 8847. the small tree Piltosporum 8852 and, very conspicuous, the stiff agave-like tree Cordyline? 8857. The K.P.M. regular monthly steamer arrived at 4 PM with the Dutch members of the expedition, soldiers, prisoners and 73 Dyak carriers. June 18th. Discussion of plans; not much work? June 19th. Took a walk up the river with Dr. Toxopeus and gathered a few plants while he preserved insects of various kinds. Was fortunate in getting good flowering speci- mens of Sapindanae 8858--one of the commonest of the large trees of the rain-forest hereabouts. It is conspicuous for its large crwon of large pinnate leaves to over 1 m. long. The tree from which I took specimens had been cut down by natives. June 20th. Rand took 3 Dyaks, Richardson 3 and myself 4 as collecting boys and started their instruction. These boys were assigned us by the capella as particularly intelligent