78 Friday Sept. 14: More or less showery after heavy rain between 9 and 10 am. SE wind. Crossed the bay by canoe to Varivarai village, 15 good houses, one of them with whaleback roof), thence along a neglected government road leading approximately east inland a bit from the coast. Ridges with small sago swamps and sluggish small streams in hollows. The rain spoiled my morning, but among the few plants collected was a fine Gardenia? with delicately fragrant flowers 7 cm. long. Good primary rain forest at my terminal point, which was perhaps only 100 feet above sea level. Many gum tree fine (Vatica) in the forest. Worth a proper examination. Lionel jacking until nearly midnight, etc. and Rus a couple of specimens. Following a report of very numerous rats on the small island of Boboa, east a couple of miles close to the coast, Liklik and a native are there this evening with traps. Another councillor and three men from Rewa Bay. The mystery of the people offering in such numbers to carry for us is resolved. Father Tomay of the Catholic Mission has been taking a hand, telling the people that we need carriers, and to offer for the work. Perhaps the government would not be pleased, if the news got to Misima. McLeod would probably object to any exercise of authority by the church. Three weeks in this locality, as planned, would be too much for profitable operation. In the morning, therefore, a runner will leave for Callanan's place on Madaua Bay with a letter asking him to transport us to Kisima any day between Friday Sept. 21 and the following Monday. Lionel this afternoon put on a radio show for the local populace. The native language program from Port Moresby, which he tuned in on at 4:30 and which went to about 5:45. Police Motu was the language most understood of several on the show, including Rabaul pidgin English. No word of thanks from anyone of the audience of about 50 men, women and youth. Saturday Sept. 15: Showers in the morning interfered with my field work in the nearer hills, but no rain fell on the beach. Showers both places in afternoon. Went to the mission village thence around the head of the bay through tall man- grove (Bruguiera) forest, garden lands on the hills now being planted to yams, sweet potatoes and casava (some yams already have shoots a foot long), then primary forest to ne Varivarai village. Very little of interest. MacGregor frequently commented in his reports on the poorness of the Sudest gardens. Probably he did not take into account the poor clayey soil. Rus shot last night a cuscus and two Nyctimene, Lionel had his later jacking spoiled by rain and got only a Petaurus. Nothing from traps on Boboa Island. The boys were instructed to examine traps often, and pick them up and leave for 11 p.. Instead they returned soon after dark, leaving the traps on this island. Reports of all traps sprung, hair in some, the cords of some bitten through. Crabs or rats? The natives bring in occasional mammals. Today a flying-fox, The flying-foxes are now in a breeding season and carrying young of various ages. Boys examining coconut palms for small bats. Sunday September 16: Fine though partly cloudy morning. Light rain through afternoon and into night. SE wind. We seem to be in a major weather disturbance, Crossed by canoe to a landing between Varivarai village and the head of the bay and collected mostly in primary rain forest of fair quality. Also worked along the edges of two garden clearings, usually productive places for plants, for, from the clearings one can see the forest better than any other way, Interesting species include a little reddish ground orchid, the first Carolina I have collected in the Louisades; although I have seen this or others before, and the second Pandanus for this island.