in due course. Collections, in my departments at any rate, have been closed for Menapi. 30 April. After the dances last night speeches were made by Len and the villagers, the latter being confined more or less to grunts og approval of Len's remarks, and then the dancers dispersed. To add a civilized touch to the original pomp and ceremony, three guitar players came along and rendered some quite good music which they had learned during the American occupation. We have everything in Menapi. But I wish I could get pictures of the dance teams - it is too dark, of course, when they arrive. This morning Ken went to the Spiller plantation to get the wireless news; it appears to be to the effect that the boat being sent for us is to go to Fergusson Island first, and not arrive here until next Monday. We should get some kind of confirmation or denial from Peter at Baniara before long. My perspiring ability is still at its peak and every morning my shirt is wringing wet an hour after breakfast; I suppose I absorb moisture when I am sleeping and then sort of wring myself out. The typewriter is not coming up to the Top Camp and for a month after we start, this journal will be hand-written; I shall have the typewriter again at the Second mountain camp. Later, same day. Not much to add as I write now. We are quite definitely in the doldrums since we completed our packing this morning before the news of the delay until Monday reached us. There is to be a canoe sent down tomorrow from Baniara to pick up friend Hoogland, and Len and I will probably go to Baniara with him; tonight, being the eve of a move (although it is Hoogland's) was an excuse for an extra smack at the rum bottle, and Hoogland is now sleeping well in his xr chair; he seems reluctant to leave us and speaks of rejoining while we are at Goodenough, but I doubt if that will work out. He seems a nice enough chap, but distinctly a scientist with not a great deal of knowledge outside his science. On the whole I think we shall be rather sorry than glad when he goes, which proves my first impression to be completely wrong. 1 May. The greater part of the morning was gone gone when a policeman arrived from Baniara to say that the water was too rough to send a canoe along for Hoogland and that, instead, he had better walk to Baniara. Len and I had planned to go along if there was a canoe and we did not have to cover the distance twice in the one short day, but as it developed I decided not to go and Len may spend the night there and return tomorrow. It rained heavily last night and I suspect the Baniara trail will be in pretty bad condition. About noon it cleared up nicely and now is so bright that I have been able to finish up the roll of film that is in my camera; the new one will carry us through the move from here and to our disembarking camp at Balawa, when finally we get there. 2 May. Len spent last night at Baniara, coming back to the coconut plantation by canoe about mid-morning with a gift of two fruit bats from Tony for Van and, much more important, a batch of mail. We had heard no sound of any boat but apparently Ted Smith's boat had come out from Samarai and dropped mail for us at the Police Island. It was more than welcome although there was so little of it that we expect more of it by the Jessie when she arrives. That event now has been put off until Monday evening, this being Saturday, and it is doubtful if we shall reach Balawa before Wednesday as they will have to unload whatever cargo there may be for Menapi before loading our gear on board. Len says that Tony is leaving for Samarai next week and expects to stay there for about six months, so we shall see him again, and Peter now thinks he will see us on Maneau some time. It now is only noon, but, I am glad to say, I have a couple of letters to answer and might as well get at them. Sunday, 3 May. This will be a very short entry as there is nothing whatever to write about. As much of the preparation for departure that can be done in advance can be done in advance has been done; we have no reason to think there is any like- lihood that the Jessie will be here before her reported time, tomorrow evening {if any- think she will be later). And there is just nothing to be done at present. That being the case, we gave all the boys, including the cooks, the day off and I prepared the breakfast. We had bought six eggs at Spiller's store and I fried them with some sausa- ges. They were good, if I say it myself, and are the first eggs in several weeks. Lit- le Losima felt very hurt that his services were dispensed with and asked if he could