Tuesday August 7: Rain stopped about 5 last evening and there has been none since, to dusk this evening. Light southeaster blowing. Botanized up inhabit Creek from Thompson's house. Easy going as far as I went - about 1/4 mile, but only one previously uncollected plant found (Myristica 27643). Turned back, then followed the old motor road up Quartz Mountain for 1/2 to 3/4 mile. Only one good plant, fragrant Fagraea 27651, found there, but I collected a few second growth things, including a Macaranga, which was not common. Hibiscus tilaiceous abundant in the second growths with Kleinhovia. At my highest point, at perhaps 300-400 feet, I was behind the first ridge of the mountain in territory which was protected from the cyclone of 1952 (April). Good tall forest there, but much overrun with vines along the road. Inhabit, the name of the creek, is puzzling. Perhaps corrupted pronunciation of In-ha-bit. Recent working for alluvial gold. Nothing in traps, nothing shot last night. Rus and his boys busy on yesterday's bats. Ian with us again today. He was to have packed in preparation for a shift back to Samarai, but instructions came by radio conversation yesterday for him to remain at Bwagaola and for Bruce Teague to go to Samarai. Ian at loggerheads with Teague; feels he has had a win. A very immature young man (20 years). The gov't. trawler Manuguma due tomorrow from Samarai. Ian actually is attached officially to the expedition (nothing for him to do, or nothing he can do, in the office at Bwagaola). Teague is only 23; has been ordered to administration school in Sydney next February. One year course now (School of Pacific Administration) used to be two. The present Liberal (actually Conservative) government in Australia is cutting down as much as it dares on measures introduced by the late Labor (actually in part the Progressive) federal government. The native cooperatives, started by the labor government, are being allowed to carry on. Feeling in trade circles is strongly against the co-ops. Within the last year or two a coop system has been established in the Misima sub-district. Several stores on Misima. Others in the Calvados Chain. Some soon to be started on Sudest. Capitalization for the whole scheme was initially 6000 pounds. A boat to run coop cargo (the Lilivasa or Lilivasu0 was bought for 9000 pounds. A call has gone out for another 6000 pounds of capital. It is felt no trouble will be experienced in raising it. Store prices, coop and private, are lower on Misime than around Samarai, freight differential notwithstanding. An 18inch knife can be bought in the local coop store for 14/6; the same article would cost us 18/6 at Buntings in Samarai. The co-ops actually are run by white men under a Registrar of Cooperatives in Port Moresby. Government pays the salaries of the white officers (Des Fitzner) is stationed on Misima; lives on the Lilivasa; and apparently keeps a close eye on everything. There is a district or regional co-op manager (Les Simpson) in Samarai. Co-ops in Milne Bay are reported to be doing very well, with no longer much white supervision (Other reports differ on this). Wednesday August 8: Another fine 24 hours; wind moderate SE; considerable cloudiness; sun also felt hot in the open, away from forest shelter. Rus, Lionel, Ian and self to the old gold mine on Quartz Mountain, about 2 miles from here by road. Were driven there by Alec Thompson in his Land rover. Self to botanize higher on the mountain, they to hunt bat in an old drive. End of road said to be 400 feet above sea level; mine 50-100 feet higher. I followed an overgrown old track perhaps a couple of hundred feet up the slopes from the end of the road to the crest of a ridge of the ridge where formerly timber was cut for the mine. This ridge crest vegetation struck hard where formerly timber was cut for the mine. This ridge crest was struck hard by the cyclone, which did very little damage at the mine -- at least to vegetation. Collected in all about a dozen numbers, mostly trees, including a good Myristica and a Calophyllum, also an Elacocarpus with big white flowers and big blue fruits. Had lunch at the old workshop of the mine, about the only building still standing. The mine was abandoned after the cyclone of 1952, the heavy rains of which continued caused the mountain side above the battery to creep. The cost of digging this out or moving the battery must have been considered more than the mine was worth. Owned by a New Zealand Company, which