(4) siderable extent.One of the Burns Philp boats on this run piled up thereon four years ago with the present skipper of this ship in command.He ordered one blast on the whistle as we swung off to the starboard to pronounce a sort of benediction. Flocks of birds around the reef,most of them too far away for recognition.A few gannets came near enough to see their beauti- ful markings and features:black body and head with almost ora- ange under-markings on wings and breast- straight,white beaks. The"sparks"has promised to try to find out from the Tulagi sta- tion whether or not the"France"is in port.Last night we had a "little visitor"in our cabin in the form of one specially de- signed wave,the aperture of entrance being beside the upper berth which I occupy. I had my attention called to Rennel Island,one that is SW of the Solomons and somewhat isolated from them.The Mataram took two government investigators,evidently geologists to Tulagi last trip;they were on their way to Rennel.According to report it is quite untouched;they say there is only one nav- gable harbor,for the island rises out of the sea like a great plateau.There are natives on it in a primitive state using im- plements of stone and wood,there being no iron on the place. September 6 Lat.14-10 S. Long.157-11 E. Run 234 Another overcast day with the glass falling.Our friend Mr.Quintal told me a great deal about Norfolk Island;he remembers well when the"France"collected there something like three years ago.It must be a wonderful place to live;excellent cclimate and no disease.They raise dairy cattle and grow all their own vegetables. I tried to catch birds off the stern with fish hook and line- no success;it is too difficult to attract their attention and besides Burns Philp are not in fa- vor of the idea. September 7 Lat.10-29 S. Long.158-50 E. Run 243 Barometer down to 29.2,squalls of rain frequent.At noon 121 miles from Tulagi.About 4 P.M.we sighted Guadalcanal, the southernmost island of the group."Sparks"in communication with Tulagi tells us that the"France"is not in nor is her pres- ent whereabouts known.Guadalcanal was an ominous looking plac its skyline showing dimly through heavy blue-black storm clouds;nevertheless a welcome sight.Saw a few sea birds(petrel) far off,an encouraging sign. September 8 We stayed up last night until the ship anchored in Tulagi harbor about 1:30 A.M.this morning.An exceptional piece of navigation and a lovely sight when we had hove to.Cooling breezes and a moon rather dispelled the terrifying conception we had conjured up about it.Tulagi itself is larger than anti- cipated,having two hotels(one White- one Chow).The B P store, sheds and employees buildings lie on a little island in the harbor known as Makambo.Across the spit from this are the main works- post office,govt.administration houses,and quite a shop- ping district,White and Chinese in separate localities. The first news we heard was as follows: item-two nights ago a chinese was murdered by a native boy following a rather serious dance that lasted over 48 hours the upshot be- ing that one participant is selected by the devil-devil to kill a man in his honor.The"Chow"just happened to be the one;item- a B P plantation manager up on Malaita slain with an axe by a native.