The commodore gave a dance on the 'Sydney' beginning at nine. All who cared to come were invited and Hannibal and I went out. The quarter deck was covered with a canvas awning under which a large red and white striped flag was stretched. A table for drinks was spread out just under the ship's flagstaff and on the ship's port side was a table spread with softer drinks and eatables. The eatables were rather curious, being of course the best that the chief steward could devise from out of the ship's stores. There were stock articles that I recognized changed in an artful way to look like something else. For instance the chocolates were undoubtedly Cadbury's Tropical Chocolates, the biscuits were undoubtedly Arnott's Biscuits, and the sandwiches were undoubtedly made from Allen's Famous Sandwich Pastes, Ltd. The dance was a great success. It gave the islanders a change, a chance to look each other over and the one girl who looks like anything at all on the island had a mad rush of it. Friday, September 23. (Tulagi). It looks as though we were at last going to reach the France. Tate, who is due to take the job of mate on the Ranandie, came in today on the Awa. He is bound for Gizo and expects to leave as soon as the Ranandie returns from Rennell Island. All is gay now in Tulagi. From all over the group the small boats have come in to see the steamer off and place their mail and merchandise upon her. In the morning the two cruisers, Sydney and Adelaide, hove up their anchors and departed. The first was bound for Samurai, the second for Choiseul to do some survey work. Being the flagship, the 'Sydney' feted the harbor with considerable pomp and ceremony and mustered her band on the quarter deck. In the evening the 'Mataram' returned from her