running for half an hour up and down the deck. It develops into quite a stunt in this rough weather. Am becoming very interested in Johnstone's remarkable book on oceangraphy called "A Study of the Oceans" and Goethe's "Wilhelmmeister." Monday, September 5. (At Sea). Ship's log today 247 miles. It continues rough, especially for a ship of this size, although, on account of getting down in the bunkers to a little better coal she is not going as slowly. During the night a large water spout entered the half open port hole of our stateroom and gave Hannibal and me a good ducking. It proved to be, although very unwelcome, an amazingly good diversion from the ubiquitous atmosphere of boredom that prevails on board. It was really very funny. We arrived off Mellish Reef shortly after luncheon. It is a coral atoll something on the order of Mary Island only not so large. The captain of the 'Mataram' was the captain of a boat that went aground on Mellish Reef four years ago. The passengers and crew were stranded there for 36 hours, and although they could have had the assistance of a Japanese freighter in ten hours from the time they landed they preferred to wait for another day until an Australian ship could get to them. In the afternoon there arose a definite motion for the holding of a fancy dress ball on the ship tomorrow night. This is one of the funniest things I have ever heard of. There are not more that five people on the old tub that can dance, including the parson and as I am pretty sure that he will not take part in it, I can only see four who will. It is going to be held anyway. Spent the evening in the smoking room listening to the story of the second officer and wireless operator. He described his experiences in the voyage of an Australian freighter which ended