126 Purosa Insects are coming in well to the lamp at night, and today I picked up over 40 specimens (mostly from the leaves of "tangat" (Cordyline terminalis) planted by the roadside. Many varieties of these plants grow along this road, also many kinds of Impatiens. Good collections of these and some other ornamental plants could be made by touring the motor roads on the Highlands. AURICHT Had as guests for lunch young Dr. Orex and the medical student we met on the road on the way down here. The student ate no meat (good roast lamb) and refused tea and coffee; frail looking chap who might benefit by a few good full meals. They were going to Purosa aid post to start on a foot patrol of a week on the kuru project. Orex was more communicative than others we have talked to on kuru. Says there is a falling out between the American (Gajdusek) and Australian research teams. He follows the genetic theory and the student appears to be a specialist in genetics. A visiting professor (Bennett?) put forward a couple of years ago (or less) a genetic explanation of the occurrence of kuru which has won acceptance in Britain if not elsewhere. The Australian team is now busy in gathering genealogies with the idea that the occurrence of the disease can be predicted. A study also being made of aberrant cases. I understand that although the disease is practically always fatal, some re- covers may occur, certainly temporary relief from the symptoms. Laughing does not occur with the disease (New Guinea natives seldom laugh outright, any- how), but it is accompanied by euphoria or an untoward sense of well-being accompanied by smiles for brief spells. Tuesday, September 22. Rain resumed about 8 p.m. and came down steadily, mostly lightly, until 8 a.m. Little sun after that. Light showers from 2 p.m. on to late afternoon. Forest very wet this morning, so I botanized down the patrol road close to the NE of camp. Got as much as I could handle within 300 yards of the motor road, mostly ferns and small plants of the rain forest undergrowth. Gully conditions prevailed and the forest carried a dense low herbaceous and soft wood undergrowth of Elatostemma, other Urticaceae, ferns of several species, the rugose purplish leaved Laportea collected a couple of days ago, Rubiaceae, etc. A fine-cut Asplenium climbed in plenty on the smaller trees. A very big Alstonia grew beside the path. A note arrived from Gavin Carter, patrol officer i/c Okapa, asking that we help him to get to Kainantu on an urgent matter. John therefore drove up to Okapa after lunch and brought Carter down to Purosa to pick up a Land Rover which the kuru men left there when they went bush yesterday. With Carter was Jillian Todd, friend of Mrs. Ruth Aurechs (Orex of previous notes, and spelling still uncertain). Tood is a trained nurse and Ruth expects a baby within a month. Chaperoning today was the New Ireland sergeant of police of Carter. The emergency, it transpires, is the shortage of food of some missionaries in the nearby Kukukuku country. Carter was driving in to Kainantu tonight to get stores. The strangest part of it all is that the hungry missionaries are of the Summer Institute of Linguistics (carrying Christ to the numerous peoples in their own language), whose base of operations is at Aiyura, not 10 miles from Kainantu. The SIL has personnel of about 200, and surely must have motor transport, at least near Aiyura.