(32) usually sit in large flocks in trees of little or no foliage.Since I returned earlier than customary Hicks and David with some insig- nificant aid from me were able to put up nearly all my birds.So the evening session lasted only until 9:30. October 29 Raised anchor at 6:30 and stood out on a NE by E course for Gizo running under power with a head wind from the NW.Reached port about noon and found many small craft awaiting the Mataram. We found B P's store a heap of ashes;it burned to the ground a week ago.Nevertheless Mr.Beck was able to buy many stores and the steamer will bring additional.En route we caught two fine fish- a bonito and another unknown thing but excellent kaikai.Capt.Voy brought the Mataram in at 9 o'clock,an extraordinary piece of sea- manship this passage being noted for its devious reefs.The sparse remains of the schooner "Montauk"of New York lies on the most dangerous of them and its wasted spars are now used as a marker. G.R.and I went on board and found the 3rd engineer who promised to make us two aux tubes to fit the 20 guage guns;this will be a great addition since the 410 shells have proven very ineffective. We also were able to weedle the mail out of the boy at the post- office and awoke everyone on board when we returned for letter- perusing,a most welcome pastime out here. October 30 (Sunday) Answered mail and wrote up my journal.Had lunch on board the steamer with G.R.,and it seemed bacchanalian;I can remember how we disparaged the steward dep't.of the Mataram on the trip up to Tulagi.A quiet evening of writing was interrupted by a sudden squall that caught us unawares and carried the France well in toward shore before we could get the big anchor down.Most of the crew were ashore but all hands on board managed to get everything tied down and the ship came head around when the big hook caught hold.We were inform- ed to-day of a very serious outbreak on Malaita.Two district offi- cers and nine police boys killed at Serengo passage back of Heuru. Mr.Bell,who has been on Malaita over 20 years and Mr.Lylies,an Ox- onian were the white men.They were collecting taxes from the bush men;there were about 100 of them.In addition to the nine police boys killed,six were badly cut up and are in the Tulagi Hospital. A punitive expedition is out after the malfactors at the present time and H.M.S. Adelaide standing by.This is the climax of many murders and smaller revolts on plantations employing labor from that particular bush district.Things should be settled by the time the France starts on Malaita. October 31 Typed notes and answered mail practically all day.Mr. Beck busy straightening out accounts and getting more supplies. Mr.Booth ,the manager of B P's will deliver our steamer cargo to-morrow morning.After shipping some birds and other material and securing the aux tubes we shall return to Vella Lavella,per- haps to solve this mystery about the black cockatoo.