-117- All of our boys more or less sick with colds contracted in Samara. About 50 or 60 local natives in charge of their village policeman spent the morning cutting the grass in the govt. establishment while not gazing in the windows to see what we were doing. A friendly nuisance. After living for months in thinly peopled country, it seems strange to have scores of people dropping in. Wherever one looks when out in the field, there are people moving on the tracks. Beli Beli, a mile or so inland, has a population of 400. These people have exterminated most of the forest and now cultivate the grasslands. Saturday, September 26, 1953: Strong gusts of wind in camp which threaten to tear down a fly we have rigged for the cook. These gusts seem to be a local feature due to the hill formation. Inland a little way the wind blows steadily from the SE; the same applies on the south coast. Examined the country inland along the old military road to Beli Beli village, nearly an hour's walk. For most part gently ridgy grassland on a black, friable, fertile-appearing soil. Grass waist high on average; mostly Themeda sp. Cattle should do well here. Rain forest confined to the streams and depressions and that all secondary although there are some big trees such as Pterocarpus indicus, Inocarpus edulis, and a mango. Most interesting plants were solitary examples of two orchids growing in the grass. In afternoon Van, guided by the cook (Kim), walked about 2 hours around Nuatuiu Point to visit some caves near Village on the coast of Moresby Strait. Three caves on a gentle limestone slope about 100 ft. above sea level and 3/4 mile from the shore. Caves high enough to stand in and the longest about 100 ft. One species of Hipposideros collected. The fathers of my two Kalo Kalo boys visited camp today. Came cross on the mission launch "Pixie" Tomi's father is village con- stable. Big man with great mop of hair and betel-stained teeth. They will return next Saturday bringing food, presumably for a feast. Food apparently scarce here on Goodenough. This is the planting season. Natives have brought in a few sweet potatoes, pumpkins, a yam, tomatoes (good for New Guinea), papayas, limes and the best oranges I have eaten on the trip. Sunday, September 27, 1953: Change in weather. Heavy shower about dawn. Others through day and evening. On the hills where I botanized this A.M. the weather was from the SW. Here in camp it is SE with even stronger gusts than usual. Higher mountains hidden until near dark. Ken may be up there in this weather. Examined two strips of relic rain forest in gullies up to 600-800 ft. S & SW from camp. If not at some time cleared for gardens, the forest is very poor for a primary community. Pterocarpus and Mangifer the principal trees. Two nutmegs plentiful in substage. Loose rubbly