Natives bringing in quantities of sweet potatoes and a few very good ripe bananas of two varieties. One 5 inches long and rather angular, the other stumpy and round, about 3 inches long; both yellow. The short thick sort is the best native banana I have eaten. Plane flew to Habbema and back to Hollandia with Hansen (Resident of Ambon), J (Controleur of Ambon), Jacobs (Asst. Resident, N. N. Guinea), Teerink (Military Commandant at Ambon), (Colonel Doctor at Ambon) and one or two lesser fry. It was so loaded with passengers that none of the museum group material could be taken out. About half this material therefore remains indef- itely at Habbema. October 10th. Temperature 52 degrees F. in tent at 6 AM. Cloudy day: a little rain at 2 PM and later and a good heavy downfall at 6.30. Still raining at 7.30. Rand and Teerink arrived 11 o'clock with a further carriers who remain here for the night. Carriers included 13 Papuans. Further good progress made with camp preparations. Tents of Rand, Richardson and myself, the mess fly, preparations fly, soldiers lean-to and Dyaks fly and mat shelter erected. Still have kitchen tent and fly, the tents of Teerink and Toxopeus, and other odds and ends of shelters to rig. Toxopeus getting a fine collection of insects attracted by the lamps. The more I see of the Dutch, the more I am convinced of their absolute helpless- ess in expedition affairs and their unadaptability. This afternoon Teerink ceased buying food in the hope that if this trade were ceased, he would be able to buy Pandanus leaf for building purposes. The bringing of food by natives is primarily a gesture of friendship and should be appreciated as such. Again, Teerink had all natives put out beyond a newly erected fence around camp at 4.30. A certain amount of pushing occurred during this operation.