Tuesday, December 13, 1938. Made a number of photographs and collected rather few plants on the high grass ridge behind camp. Returning along the Ait tributary, I met some delightful people who insisted that I rest near their village while they brought cooked sweet potatoes for myself and my Dyaks. Wednesday, December 14, 1938. The Guba left Melbourne for Townsville, after the completion of engine repairs. Following at times a small track, I ascended to the head of the great erosion canyon which cut the mountain to the depth of 1000 feet a little up the river from camp. A most striking example of gully erosion which probably started in a graden drain. Similar erosion cuts, on a small scale, are common on the slopes on both sides ofthe valley where the rock is sandstone. On top of the ridge, behind the canyon, are areas of poor sandy soil covered with Vaccinium scrub broken by strips of relic Castanopsis and oak in the gullies, and bracken. Head of the canyon is about 300 m. above the valley floor. Thursday, December 15, 1938. A cool overcast, but rainless day, with wind from the NW. River 2-3 feet higher than at any time since the 7th, but beginning to fall slowly about 4 PM. A further rise of three feet would flood much of our camp, situated as it is on the alluvial bank of the river. Stocktaking of stores by the military party shows that they have full rations to the 28th, and barely enough food to carry the party to the Idenburg, if we started overland immediately. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX