(51) December 11 (Sunday) Steamed to Faisi as soon as we could get the anchor up,arr- riving after lunch and learned that the Mataram is expected at 4 P.M. We anchored in the middle of a little bay opposite Faisi I.,and so were the first craft to sight the steamer.The mail came aboard after supper. G.R.,and I read ours in the smoke-room of the Mataram over cold beer. In addition to word from home in such a location we could pick up the latest dope on the Malaita"war",Norman Wheatley,deceased acquaintances of Tulagi who were thriving only two months ago when we were residents, and any Solomon scandal.The ship's officers reported a very poor passen- ger list.We were introduced to and consequently bought whiskey for"Jock" Cromar,the oldest living graduate of the brass knuckle days.He has had 45 years in the Solomons;in 1883 he was put ashore on the beach of Malai- ta with a few presents to induce the natives listen to one of the first encomiums about recruiting for the Queensland plantations;he is a dead pistol shot;knows the history of everything down here- undoubtedly be- cause there is no living person to verify his version.Anyway- we took it in. December 12 No business.Steamer day proper with letters to get off,beer, and dinner on the steamer for a change. December 13 The France is at anchor in a small bay opposite Faisi I., The entire waterway around the island is sheltered by a great reef bar- rier a couple of miles to seaward.Shortland I.,lies approximately 10 miles W of the intersection of Long.156 W.and Lat.7 S.The island is a low body of land,poorly drained with very irregular coastline,measur- ing 15 miles E X W and 9 miles N X S.676 feet is the highest altitude recorded on the chart;from our position we can see no high land:that is, more than about 200 feet.Five rivers are reported on the chart and two of them only of navigable repute for any distance.The western part of Shortland I.,is well planted;some of the coconut tracts are of 20 years standing.Fauro I.,can be seen off to the NE and the neighboring islets of Poparang,and Alu to the east.A larger island-Morgusaia is separated from Shortland by a narrow but navigable channel.There are numerous small islands lie between the Shortland group and Bougainville;Ballale is the largest;all of these are included in the mandated territory un- der the administration of Australia.G.R.,and I went into the field via Lofa Plantation which is owned(in shares of stock)by B P & Co.The pre- sent manager is Percival Bedford who helped us by showing us a trail into the bush.In extent of planted acreage this is one of the largest in this part of the group;the march to the bush itself is quite convinc- ing.We went into a low flat full of small trees and cane-like reeds. There were numerous trails which led to clearings where wood had been cut;the ground was a base of old coral mixed with red clay.Beyond this lay a steep ridge of heavily wooded coral which I tried with futile re- sult.I returned and wandered about the cane flat.I flushed four ground doves and shot one on the wing which got away.White-eyes were plentiful and proved to be of a new variety in plumage- dark bill and very white breast.I shot a red-breasted flycatcher which appears to be similar to the type found on Fauro I.Blackheads and fantails,both the brown and the black were heard,but I could not call them up.I shot a female graybird and could not find it.After lunch I went further into the bush,finding one trail that led through a narrow canyon in the ridge into a much lar- ger stretch of flat country beyond,densely wooded,many of the trees of great height and age.The birds were all in these forest monarchs(hack phrase)- the call of the mina drowned out about everything else;doves