there at present. Called on the Resident (Mr. Hanson) who radioed Hollandia re our arrival and at my request asked the Controller to obtain for us about 40 local coolies and a preliminary supply of 3000 sticks of atap for houses. Also called on the military commandant, Guesa Tierevich. About 2/3s of the old fort of Ambon remains; the walls fairly bristling with old cannon of various weights and calibre. Sago, an important article of food at Ambon. A pleasing feature of its narrow streets is well clipped low hedge of a small bamboo. Sam some black-coated native Christians at a funeral in the cemetery. Amboina has long been christianized. Radio station has two queer looking earthquake-proof masts. Left at 5 PM and headed for the Moluccas. April 15th. The usual placid sea and lazy heat; but today (Good Friday) somewhat rainy from a northerly direction. Passing Obiri and a number of smaller mountainous islands on our right, we spent several hours of the afternoon loading copra from a large plantation occupying a narrow strip of coast under the shadow of the 2100 m. extinct volcano of --- on the west side of the island of Batjan, in the Moluccas. This Plantation also owns a pearling vessel. Late in the afternoon we anchored at the [illegible] port of Labuha, about 1/2 hour's steaming farther north on the same island. This is quite a small place with a controleur, post and radio office, K.P.M. office and apparently not much else in the way of European activity. The residence of the local sultan is conspic- ouous on a slope some few km. out of the town. The place boasts 2 motorcars, an old Buick and the sultan's new Chevrolet. Many orchids were seen in the trim gardens of the townsfolk, a thick-boledn Cycad is commonly planted and there are th usual betel-palms, Casuarinas, Tamarinds etc. A brownish Dracena is used to form living fences. House construction is of split bamboo placed vertically for walls and atap thatch. All business is in the hands of Chinese.