(26) (bitter.) a small brown heron with peculiar rice, reddish plumage. David got two eazb hawks - this is just the kind of spot for their nests. All three of us saw ground doves - the common species and hornbills! A remarkable occurrence since they were certainly not present on the mainland of New Georgia. The ship picked us up at 2 P.M. Too late to visit Mbulu where we could not anchor - all those outlying islands are steep-to. So set our course for Rawo Lavate on the SE side of Gatukai, given as protected but very deep anchorage: indeed 22 fathoms, Methodist village - they did not come out until after dark. June 24- At dawn the wind came fresh out of the NE with rain squalls and our stern was a quest's toss from the ugly rocky shore. So we started the engine and manned the windlass. Thank Heaven the engine did not fail us - we got out of it all right - passed between Malemala and the main land and sought another position. I thought we should have to go all the way around through the Wickham Pas., but noted a small opening marked "font passage" on the chart on the western side. Netwer came out in canoes when we got close and informed that we could get over the bar. The Captain took the long-boat and took soundings, finding nothing less than 2 fathoms. So, with a native pilot we returned through and quite safely to a fine, calm anchorage on the inside off Phujuku, 7-Day Village in excellent position for collecting. June 25. The "Pacific Is. Pilot" cites Kicha, Malemala, and Mbulu as sacred to the natives - being used as burial places - skull caves, etc., similar to the one we visited on Villa LaVelle. He found no evidence whatsoever - evidently time-worn (the report dates from 1895). All ashore this morning by 6:30. Charlie is still nursing painful glands; I started him on a course of iodide. We found no trails as reported and small variety of species. However, we saw hornbills in flight from the main island off to the outlying ones. Fly-catchers, sunas, and starlings - but no evidence of blackheads or fantails. I heard the brown but not the black. The village is very clean and well-populated although devoid of any interest because of the destroying effects of Christianity. The big canoe house still stands, but all the remarkable steel and mother-of-pearl inlay decorations, feathers, inlaid & figuring props have been removed from the craft by order of this hisane sect.