-129- Sunday, October 18, 1953: Max 20, Min. 15 C. Again misty at dawn; good sunshine until late afternoon; mist again tonight. Had, with good visibility in the tree-tops, a good morning in the field on the spur above camp. Collected the first Rhododendron for the island, a small-leaved high epiphyte with pretty bell-shaped pink flowers. Have seen sterile plants of another species with big leaves. Many forest trees about to come into flower. A mail runner arrived about 3:30 with letters from U.S. and Samarai forwarded from Bolu Bolu by Ken at 3 P.M. yesterday. An urgent letter from Dusty miller dated Sept. 28, 1953, saying Geoff had another stroke a few days after we left him in Samarai and that his return home would have to be delayed several weeks. By this time he is perhaps on the way or already there by air. Wrote Miriam, Geoff and Dick about this misfortune. The stroke was serious this time. His facial muscles are affected, his mouth sags and he has difficulty in speaking. Monday, October 19, 1953: Max. 20.5, Min. 15.5 C. Condensed mist dripping on the tent kept waking me through last night. Tonight it is raining. Has been since about 1 P.M. Mist in tree-tops and closer to the ground most of day. Probably dirty SE weather on the coast. Strong gusts here last night. Thunder to the N. this afternoon. Got the mail runner away before 7 A.M. Jarrett (Nuatuta Planation owner on a visit to his property near Bolu Holu), is due to sail for Samarai tomorrow. With a change of runners at Wakonai, or even if the one man has to go right through, the letters should be at Bolu Bolu this evening. The weather kept me close to camp for field work and only 13 numbers collected, including the 6th Vaccinium (in a broad sense) for the locality. Van had only one rat from all his traps. Yesterday being Sunday, his native hunter after probably making use of all the prescribed pagan charms during the week, did not go out. Today, reinforced by a second dog and a small boy, he returned in the rain with 2 wallabies, 1 cuscus, 2 bandicoots and 2 Dobsonia. Some of the specimens badly torn by the dogs not being used to hunting together, and they fought over the prey. Tuesday, October 20, 1953: Max. 19, Min. 15 C. Mist down to the ground in forest until about 7 A.M.; overcast thereafter; no rain. Some stars peeping out tonight. Botanized down the spur to the edge of the deep saddle on the grassland at about 1500 m. Had glimpses of the main peaks, clear and blue above a broken cloudfield; and of the coast, looking blue and wet. of Nothing/special interest on the grass spur, or in strips of