-133- Tuesday, October 27, 1953: It looked like being a good day. Ken went down with malaria in mid-morning, as he does often because he will not look 10 days ahead and take preventive drugs of which we have plenty. Van had nothing from traps, but a nice family series of 5 Pogonomys taken from a hollow tree, a Hipposideros he shot last night and a Dobsonia brought in by a native. There was a good catch of Odonata and butterflies. I captured the third snake for the locality. I also collected good material of an oak common here (#25,000) and of a big Proteaceous tree which resembles Helicia but I think is another genus. Then in the middle of the afternoon Jack, the Wakonai councillor, arrived with a mail bag. The biggest mail we have had on the trip. Some of it had been sent from Samarai weeks ago on the mission vessel "Koonwarra" which broke down. About 30 letters for me, including five from Marie. Also letters from Dusty and Ailsa about Geoff. He is in bad shape. Completely paralyzed on the right side; unable to say anything but the easiest words such as "Yes" and "No". We have to get him home. Therefore I have decided to close the expedition. Sending Ken to the coast in the morning with cables for Miriam and Dick, and detailed instructions to communicate to Dusty re arrangements for getting Geoff back to the U.S. as a stretcher case, with Van in attendance. I will stay to wind up expedition affairs and see to the packing of collections and gear. Ken will go to Mapamoiva, on Fergusson Id., the nearest radio station, in a small launch belonging to Jarrett of Nuatutu who has put it at our disposal in case of an emergency. Van and I will close this camp on the 31st and go down to Wakonai. We will there be in a position to act quickly upon alternative plans: (1) If Geoff is well enough to travel now, I am asking for a boat to meet us at Bolu Bolu Nov. 3 to take us to Samarai; (2) If Geoff should be able to travel soon, we will embark for Samarai Nov. 3 and put in any waiting time on the mainland near Samarai; (3) If travel is inadvisable for Geoff for some considerable time, we will carry on as per previous plan work on Normanby Island until Geoff has medical OK for travel. Wednesday, October 28, 1953: Ken left for the coast and Mapamoiva about 7:15 A.M. He is to arrange for a preliminary carry of its loads from here to Wakonai on the 29th. Forty carriers are to move Van and I to Wakonai on the 31st. We will plan to move from Wakonai to Bolu Bolu Nov. 2, if Geoff is fit to go home. I could not wish for better general botanizing than I had this morning down the stream and ridge from camp. Many trees are in flower and a few with both flowers and fruits. Van had his first catch from traps - a soft-furred small rat with Melomys mammary formula. Melomys is not known from the D'Entrecasteaux Group of islands.