43 every effort to effect the immediate delivery of our 4" planks for decking the ramp. May 18th. Allotment of coolies much a s yesterday, except that 10 men were required to bring more atap timber. A beautifully fine still day after the rain. A distinct though not severe earth tremor at 7.45 PM: Yesterday a radio arrived from Internatio, Sourabaia, advising that only "rosa" spotted cowrie shells were available there. Only the white shells are valued as trade in the mountains. Made enquiries locally and was offered 500 white shells at 5 cents each by a local Chinaman. May 19th. Most coolies working on the same jobs since Wednesday. The big raft for heavy caggo should be completed tomorrow morning. Getting timber and rotang and roof building this raft has been a big job. Our house is whitewashed inside and partly outside and scrubbed out ready for occupation tomorrow. Kitchen also whitewashed. Spent over an hour in an attempt to bail out the mission house well, working 4 boys in shifts of 2. The water, pushed up by the rising tide, proved too much for us. Mr. Ebeli came down from Sentani in connection with his lumber and in answer to a letter written two days ago by Mielcke. He has 450 of the total 500 planks cut but delivery is held up by transport difficulties. 40 planks are at Pim and 200 mo more somewhere along the road between Pim and the lake. The difficulty however seems chiefly one of money. Also about 100 Sentani boys are working on roads in preparation for axvisit the arrival of the assistant resident next week. Ebeli's visit was for the purpose of asking for an advance payment to cover the first transport costs. He believes that the sight of money, of which he has none, will draw plenty of men willing to travel. Advanced Ebeli f130.00. Had the gesagheber and Ebeli to dinner.