47 Work goes slowly on the ramp. I started putting on the deck and completed about 2 meters of double 2" planking. Richardson has the plates and ridgepole on the coolies house. Ramm treated us to a radio reception of World's news at 4.30 PM. Rand working on the punt. What with several passengers and a crowd of officers from the "Meral" the town is full of white people. Schroeder started the erection of his godown for military and Dyak stores (13 x 7 1/2 m.). His soldiers skinning posts with their swords. May 28th. Heavy rain from showers in the early hours before daylight, followed by an extremely hot and humid clear morning. Richardson had one side of the coolie house roofed with atap. Mielcke has two logs of the first set on the beach in place. [illegible] As Mielcke joins the logs and sets them in position, I follow with a gang of 6 boys laying the decking. The use of an electric drill enabled me to make good progress with this today. Ramm started rigging his big aerial to trees. Work this week has been affected by the arrival of the monthly steamer and the necessity of getting our cargo under cover and partly opened up. Bought for inland trade 500 white cowrie shells from the Chinese Eng Boo Hoo at 2 1/2 cents apiece. May 29th. Spent the morning on accounts. At 11.30 we repaired to the gesagheber's house to eat a rice-tafel. As Richardson remarked, a pleasant waste of time. Richardson started out by prouw before breakfast on a visit to Tabati and returned at 11.15 with a load of curios. In the afternoon Ramm tried out one of the field radio sets. Reception good but the engine uncertain in its running and the transmitter out of action. Every evening the native population assembles about the base and especially the radio shack, to view the wonders of the expedition.