work on store purchases. Mr. Grutlemans, lumber manager, went with me to various Chines and timber yards in search of 8 x 4 hardwood for the aeroplane ramp. Teak is used for practically all purposes in Java and heavier woods therefore very diffi cult to obtain in quantity. Staying at the Oranje Hotel; another great practically empty place built around courtyards. April 1st. Time fully occupied doing the rounds of the town with various members of the staff of Internationale--Usually Velders and Teerink, the latter a brother of Capt ain Teerink of Bandoeng, who is organizing the military party. The decentrali- zation of business by Government decree, means that for most things one has to hum all over the town,and to complicate matters, many of the items we need of stores and supplies are not in common use in Java. Communications from Rand indicate that things are not progressing very happily at Batavia. Buitenzorg is adding a second forester to the party and are baulking at supplying the American members of the party with trained collecting boys: a privilege we were led to expect at the beginning. April 3rd. Took a car to Tretes, a hill resort --- km. from Soerabaia, the trip there and back occupying 3 1/2 hours at a cost of 12.5 g. A very pleasant ride over perfect bi tumen roads, tree-shaded and rising at first very gradually through rice-fields, cane-fields (rather small I thought for the number of mills) and passing through several larger villages and small towns. The terraced hill fields, planted with rice and kapok, are not so impressive as when Viewed from the air. The numerous bungalows of Tretes, placed all over the slopes and on the sides of the ravines. impress with their color and neatness. Red painted facings, red Poinsettia, various green foligges, the grey of the volcanic rocks and the chlorin green of the swimming pools provide striking contrasts even if they do not blend.