Pengagl Creek Great excitement among the natives about the coming of the kiap tomorrow. A gang doing up the road between our camp and the Keglsugl strip. We have had our second visit from the luluai, this time wearing his official peaked cap and badge. Followed an old track over to Iabuka Creek, about 1/2 mile distant, approximately north. Shortly after leaving Pengagl Creek one comes to a seepage area of maybe an acre, open through the fall of trees and the wetness of the ground. Big pandans common there. A slender Olearia new to the collection but past flowering, grew on the wet ground; several orchids new to the collection grew close to the ground in heavy moss. Otherwise nothing new or different from the general run of surrounding forest. The carnation-scented big white Rhododendron common and conspicuous on logs; red Epiblastus on mossy ground and logs. A steep climb with bad footing for about 100 above the swamp brought one to the crest of a rather level-topped ridge from which the trail dropped down to the Iabaku, there about 100 ft. higher than the Pengagl. A wild stream, full of big round, mossy boulders, and undisturbed by man or pig. Very tall forest on the ridge top; the largest trees coniferous: Podocarpus pamuanus?, a big-leafed podocarp, already collected, and Papuacedrus. Trees at least 120 ft. high x 3 ft. diameter. The forest soil in this locality is dark gray and friable and looks fertile. A depth of up to about 20 feet of soil, with varying quantities of boulders intermixed (glacial till?) shows in the eroded banks of Pengagl Creek. These soils would be valuable to a more advanced people. They do not appear to be at all peaty. Monday, July 13. Max. 17.5, min. 5.5 C. Another rosy dawn followed by a beautifully fine day until about 2 p.m., when the sky clouded over and intermittent light showers began. John and I went down to the Keglsugl strip after breakfast to meet Bill Seale. His chartered Cessna arrived from Goroka a few minutes after nine, landed near the bottom end of the strip, and did not have enough power to taxi to the upper end until it unloaded. Bill brought as a surprise guest for us Ken James, manager of Buntings at Goroka. I botanized back to camp for nothing very much. The forest at the lower levels much disturbed. No fundamental change from our camp level down to the strip, 550 feet below. A crowd of native dignitaries at the strip to meet Bill. His pow pow with them was held at our camp. Two luluais and a number of tultuls present. Some of the men wore traditional Chimbu dress, others various degrees of white man's dress. Lulual Kindua affected, besides his cap and badge, a shirt and a laplap, gay necktie, and one lady's pearl earring. Conference went well according to Bill. The government will supply the tools and the people the labor for bringing a motor road from its present termination towards Kundiawa to Keglsugl or Bundi Gap. Eventually, the road will connect with the coast at Madang. Four jacking parties out last night (Van, John, Kim and Wak). Van had all the luck: a fine big Phalanger vestitus and a small Pseudocheirus.