-107- Friday, August 28, 1953: Max. 27, Min. 22.5 C. Showers before daylight; heavy rain 10 - noon; still overcast tonight; wind from NW (cloud drift) in P.M. Morning's field work spoiled by the rain which drove me back to camp. Tried to cut through directly east to the next creek but was stopped by tangles of lawyer cane which would have taken much time to go through. Several good lants included two epiphytic ferns new to the collection (a Cyclophorus and one of unknown genus) scavenged from a great tree which fell during the heavy rains of a week ago. Most big trees yield an epiphyte or two and maybe a liana to swell the collection, deciduous trees being most productive. Geoff started to cut trail toward the Rakua River on a bearing of 315 degrees. Saturday, August 29, 1953: Max. 30, Min. 22.5 C. Light rain through much of night; sun and showers in morning; heavy rain with thunder 5:30 - 6 P.M. Sultry day; cloud drift from NW. Followed a faint trail ca. SE through the forest and in 1-1[illegible] mile came to a big garden with a house in the middle of it owned by the Guitabna (Awani) councillor, who was sitting there, making a comb and talking with a crony while 3 women weeded the taro. A policeman from Baniara with a radiogram from Forest Botanist Womersley, who hopes to join us on Goodenough Island. Sunday, August 30, 1953: Max. 30, Min. 22.5 C. Rainless, partly cloudy hot day. Very humid after the rains. Cloud drift from NW. Went to Opaigwari (Geoff and Ken too) to photograph the natives in their dancing array. The Maiva people of Opaigwari and Awani villages put on the first show. Later in the morning the Daga people of Biniguni made a formal entry, dancing down the track in double file, drums beating, head-dresses bobbing, in charge of their chief who carried a ceremonial spear decorated with white cockatoo feathers. Approaching Daga greeted with cries of Orokaiva (friend, or peace). A little dancing back and forth, conducted by the chief, who soon retired to the shade of a front porch to chew betel-nut with other head men. Dance carried on by combined Maiva and Daga, a few young women doing the steps at the ends of the double line. Some good head-dresses, mainly of cockatoo feathers; some red bird-of-paradise plumes. The most important men (Biniguni chief and Awani councillor) were without head-dresses but were long, ornamented bars of tortoise shell horizontally through their back hair. Alternating sunshine and cloud made color photography difficult. Made shots of the dancing, head men, etc. Ken used black and white from which we have promised to send prints. A friendly and colorful show, not marred by a try-out on us in which the Opaigwari councillor failed. For a week or more he had talked of killing a pig and giving a feast for our party. Yesterday he came to camp and announced that this would be the day. Also stated he would expect in return 3 pounds in money and 20 tins of