(130) word, however on July 7th that he had arrived on the 5th and to cable instructions. I wired that he catch the S.S. Moraida to Samarai whence he can be picked up for the Solomons by the S.S. Noorookana, Sever Bros. steamer which is doing an inspection trip - very lucky, unusual, etc., but just in the nick. This was through the courtesy of Major Hewitt, gen- eral manager at Gavutu. They will bring him to the Res- el Group where we can pick him up with no delay to the work of the expedition en route to Buena Vista when we have finished the New Georgia group future. I got confirmation of this on the 12th. David and Charlie and I (for one day) collected on Tulagi I., taking some interesting stuff including long-tailed doves, midgets, the yellow-headed (female-gray) green parrot, graybirds, and blue-back kingfisher. I purchased some stores from carpenter's on credit - also at B.P.'s where I took ten drums of benzine at a reduced figure (25 shillings,) and got a promise for similar supply for the future in amounts over 20 drums, at less than 23/- a drum. Some cargo arrived that I ordered from Sydney last steamer through Tait & Co., but we had to wait alongside the wharf for a night until it was cleared. I shipped two cases of skews by freight and a box by mail. An interesting letter arrived from Doctor Murphy describing the sudden cancellation of his proposed trip out here. The weather during our stay has been very un-hospitable. Continuous SE trade fresh across the harbor with rainsqualls- (when we go outside it will fall calm). We had to put the big anchor down to hold her as she had dragged considerably. Dur- ing our entire visit to Tulagi the skipper has been dead drunk - absolutely out like a light. And with his ship shear- ing about at her cables and causing me anxiety. Her spent most of his nights (and days) passed out in the Chinese hotel - a filthy dive. The deploration is interesting. In talking with Captain Cwickshank of the Resident Commission