(350) 351 I find myself rather weak and got into the blankets with a touch of fever. No collecting done.Strong SE wind during night with bursts of rain. April 17 On the road by 9 A.M.reaching the Govt.Tax-collecting House by noon.Alone and with good conditions one could make the hike from Arorla to the coast in 8-10 hours.The distance to either Ulimburi or Sinerango is approximately the same from our camp. All on board by 3:30 where we found the captain ill with fever (sub-tertian gastric).We plan to leave to-morrow.Assisted with the un- packing of specimens and worked on the motor anticipating early start. No collecting done.Weather fine but misty at night with some rain. April 18 My condition much improved with good night's rest.I had a job to finish on the motor and could not get started on time.Captain attempted to sail out of the harbor but westerly breeze off the land fell as the ship approached the outer reef passage and forced him to put about to re- turn to the anchorage under light southerly.Hove up again and proceeded out under power setting course to round north end of Malaita.All sails set but wind light and variable from the south'ard.Stopped motor at 5 P.M. Took deck watch from 6 to 10 P.M. Passed Manoba Is.A/C to West. Saw a few flocks of noddies,some sooties,and a few gannets. Fine and cool during night. April 19 Cape Astrolabe well astern at dawn and course set SW/W to pass through passage between Florida and Buena Vista Is.Using motor from 7:30 A.M.throughout run.Good weather and fairly calm sea until 4 P.M. when wind and rain squalls came away from the SE.Cap tain decided to anchor in lee of Olevuga Is. 5:30 P.M. Eyerdam ashore to look for shells. No sea-birds of interest sighted during run.But just after Eyer- dam had left in the small dinghy a dusky-colored storm petrel came into [illegible].It flew about the harbor at quite a distance from the ship.It was too dark for me to distinguish any identification. Weather cleared up during night. April 20 (Easter Sunday) sfoot Eyerdam ashore early with some of the crew to collect shells and shoot pigeons.I had a pump gland to re-pack;finished by 8 A.M.and vessel under weigh by 9.Wind SE dead ahead all the way in to Tulagi.We passed through several heavy squalls.Anchored in harbor about I P.M.,but too close to the shore.Washed down and cleaned up. All of us had dinner at the hotel.Captain stayed ashore all night. April 21 Severe squall caused vessel to drag her anchor and come up with the keel bumping the bottom and foul ground all around.This awakened me at 5 A.M.and I hurriedly got all hands to the windlass to heave the ship up to her anchor and out of shallow water.Started the motor and shifted the vessel around to the inner harbor(Ellis cove)which is protected from the SE and affords the only comfortable anchorage for a ship of our ton- nage during this season.Only the false keel touched the bottom;so no da- mag done.Captain arrived aboard at noon. reslves No business can be done ashore- bank holiday.Labelled birds on board.After supper ashore we found the postmaster who gave us some mail. I received a radio from Dr.Sanford. Weather fine with strong SE wind. No collecting done. April 22 Visited Burns Philp to learn our status.Dispatched one radio to Bank of NSW to enquire our balance and another to Clay & Co.,Samarai.