-113- Called on Acting District Commissioner Rutledge to discuss plans for work on Goodenough Island. Rutledge has been on the island - he evacuated the native population from parts occupied by US forces during the war - but he knows very little about the interior. He will have a radio conversation with Greeney, ADO as Esa'ala, who has done extensive patrolling on Goodenough and should be able to advise on the best route up the mountain which comprises the bulk of the island. So far as I can ascertain, only two white men have climbed that mountain. The first ascent was made sometime pre-war by Clem Rich, from Wataluma Bay on the north coast, the second by a mosquito control officer (Strong) of the Australian forces during the war. I had hoped to talk with Rich on this visit to Samarai, but he is away in Australia on leave. The story is that he climbed the mountain on a bet for a case of rum. Wednesday, September 16, 1953: Our collections have been stacked in storage, gear and supplies reorganized, and stores bought for Good-enough. All we need is a boat to take us there. There has been strong squally SE weather for several days and boats are delayed. From radiograms exchanged between the District Commissioner, Samarai and District Officer, Esa'ala, this information has been gathered: There is no lake on Goodenough; the "route to Olamadawai Mountain is Vivigani to Wakonai to Tutuwananakabu Village. Then track must be cut straight up round trip about two days"; there is at Esa'ala an interpreter who accompanied Rick on his ascent of the mountain. Olamadawai is an eastern peak of the big mountain and it does not look especially attractive from the 1-mile map. We should be able to get valuable information from the native interpreter at Esa'ala. Geoff will return home via England, beginning the journey on the "Melaita" which is expected to sail from Samarai for Sydney about the end of this week or beginning of next. Buntings have radioed for a passage on a P & O ship due to leave Sydney for England October 9. We are taking insect and herp. collecting gear to Goodenough. Ken Wynn has offered to collect these groups in his spare time. Saturday, September 19, 1953: Still in Samarai. The weather moderated yesterday and late last night the "Jessie", which is to take us to Goodenough and has been sheltering somewhere in the eastern islands, arrived in port. Almost constant heavy rain today has prevented her unloading a cargo of copra. Early this morning, before the start of the rain, it seemed possible for us to load this afternoon and get away tomorrow morning. Now the likelihood is that we will be here until Tuesday. A 10,000 ton ship, the "Ernebank," which came in early in the week to load 1000 tons of copra, is tied up at the wharf with her slings idle. A Banks Line ship. She picks up copra through the islands and carries it to England.