Hoogland bore a letter from Womersley saying that he, Womersley, could not visit us now owing to pressure of office work, but he hopes to join us on Goodenough Island. Forest Officer Hart may not be able to accompany us to Mt. Dayman. Recommends not taking Hoogland to the mountains - personality and unsuitability of his equipment. Have already told H. we can not invite him inland. Will be glad when this visitation is over. It introduces a foreign note into our party. Sat. 4/18/53: Weather as yesterday, with stronger southeaster, veering to ENE about sundown. Mountains clear across the bay early this AM. Hoogland with me in the field this morning, and helped with prep- aration of materials in afternoon. Knows little about the plants, and is frank about it. His work on New Guinea flora has been monographic. Worked the rough limestone ridge east and NE of Menapi Bay. Only 13 numbers gathered but some of them of special interest: climbing Bauhinia 21979. Hoya 21980, Tecoma 21973. Primary rain forest persists on only the roughest parts of the ridge; the rest has been cleared for gardens and now carries secondary growths and grasslands of Imperata and Ophiurus. From Hoogland I learn that Womersley, besides his duties as botanist in the Forestry Department, has charge of plantations ex (Araucaria spp. for timber in the Bulolo area now being exploited commercially, and reforestation of induced grasslands on the central highlands), and is charged with the establishment of a botannical garden; and a hill garden somewhere on the highlands. Looks like a job for at least three men. The botannical garden is to be at Lae. Regarding the Dutch-Indonesian dispute over possession of west New Guinea, Hoogland says small detachments of Indian soldiers have at times landed on the Vogelkop. Sunday 4/19/53: Yesterday's weather repeated. Bunting's "Betty Ann" arrived after dark last night with two months replenishment of stores for us. A start made in repacking for inland trans- port. The crippled "Ruru", which was to have taken us to Baiawa on May 4 is being taken to Samarai, or in the direction of Samarai, tomorrow. It is un- certain whether she will be available for our charter when needed. Have written to Buntings, and District Commissioner in an effort to arrange alternate transport. Our flour supply per "Betty Ann", invoiced as "fresh", is full of weavils and their larvae and will soon be rotten. Keeping a month's supply and sending the rest back to Samarai.