361 About half are missionized by the Methodist;there is a Samoan Mission on Simbo which controls the largest salt-water village. The boys of the crew had a happy visit with their countrymen. The best accomplishment of the Missions apparently is in teaching the natives new arts of agriculture and domestic life.Thus numerous Polynesian methods of basket and mat weaving have been introduced by the missionary on Simbo.The planting of sweet corn and beans on Ganonga was the result of imported teaching.Narovo boasts of many domestic fowls which with the megapodes supply plenty of eggs;they can be purchased in any of the villages,5 for 1 stick of tobacco.The men of the salt-water near Mr.Pohlson's house are just finishing one large canoe that will carry 24 persons.The task has already taken four years and represents an art that is rapidly disintegrating since the old men no longer trouble to teach the youth such ancient accomplishments.There are very few mosquitoes at this anchorage but their absence is compensated by the number of flies probably caused by the presence of so many natives the majority of which are very uncleanly in their habits. Flies carry the diseases of the skin that afflict the blacks;and here in particular a number show bad cases of granulated eyelids. By noon Mr.Beck,the Doctor,Hicks,G.R.,and I were in the field.I picked up a salt-water man named Doti who took me up a trail like the side of a house since I told him I wanted to go up.We went up about 800 feet and I shot 3 bald fly-catchers but could only find one since each dropped 20 or 30 feet below me.I was informed that a small crater lies at the top,extinct of course,but did not investigate.Coming down another trail not so steep I had a shot at an eagle hawk and took a broad-billed bluebird similar to the species of Guadalcanal and Florida.Reaching the shore I walked along the gov't road that leads across Narovo to Simbo I.,taking a wag-tail and a white-headed kingfisher.Green and red parrots and paroquets were common among the coconuts.All the groves here are native-owned;the copra is sold or traded to Mr.Pohlson.I waded over to Simbo where I heard minas,starlings,and pigeons but had no chances.Here I shall hunt to-morrow.Returned to the main island in a single canoe,a singular accomplishment for me.No one took a great number of birds;the Doctor had a number of fly-catchers, male and female.Mr.Beck returned a long,light brown snake.G.R.also got a bluebird.My guide invited me to inspect his house which lay just off the road on the way back.The neatness of the little settlement surprised me.Japanese clover made a fine green lawn all around, and the houses were all on solid foundations of rock.The meris looked very trim in bright lavalavas and were busily cracking nygali nuts of which my friend gave me half a coconut full.October and November is the nut season and one of their busiest since they put them up to last the whole year.The nuts are mashed and mixed with some unknown ingredients into a poi pudding;this is cleverly wrapped in a bundle of leaves and hung up to the rafters in the houses. The black boys came out to the France to trade fruit and vegetables bringing yams,bananas,and pawpaws;not to mention the rarer hen's egg.Most of them were fresh but Mr.Beck found a number of megapode eggs too much ripe with pickininnies testing them in water. An interested audience watched us put up birds.The session lasted until 10:30 but all the natives depart before 8 and one rarely sees one prowling about after darkness comes down over the land. October 27 Heavy rain squalls drove me to cover from the after deck last night;rain continued through the morning keeping us on board. The Doctor,Hicks,G.R.,and I went ashore after lunch.I made for Simbo as planned and took four bald fly-catchers,starlings,and a mina.The latter resembles the Kulambangra species but has a larger