(99) trunk and guide. He knows the way, undoubtedly the na- tures have been up here before. But a long time back since his track is ever visible. The old boy leads us along by instinct. Occasionally we come across old suc-sac stumps, the stalks of which had been previously cut down for food (the center of the calyx where the leaves wrap themselves on to the trunk is quite tasty). The bamboo was tough - some of the stalks 6 inches in diameter. I received numerous & sundry cuts, al- though the natives did not mind it under their feet. We had two hand axes and about six knives at work up in front- myself included wielding a mean cleaver. We enjoyed a hot meal with cocoa, biscuits & jam. The retainers had a feed of rice. It was the first time they had tasted it. How they smacked their lips over it with a good dusting of salt. So, about ten more joined us this evening, late arrivals being fashionable like the others who came last night. And three or four meris brought taro up. A separate house was con- structed for them a good distance off. We never saw them. We put up our birds before it got too dark. The tempera- ture at 11 P.M. last night was about 21° F. Unfortunately the thermometer was broken in this day's transit - out- side of my barometer, the only other meteorological instru- ment. I should have the gear for recording pressure, humid- ity etc., since this is the highest peak in the Solomons and nothing can stop us now. Rain during the night. April-23 I decided to leave David in the camp here to collect and look after the equipment and supplies. Hicks and I left with as little food as possible - for 48 hours. The old chief and his brother, the pathfinder with about ten others, three little monkeys, set out for the last leg. The brush reminds me very much of that around 5000 feet above Korpei in the Kronprinzen: moss-covered, tree fern everywhere, and stacks of pandanus and suc-sac. However we passed