Bill Callanan arrived in his "Polyanna" about 11 in the morning. The cargo is all loaded this evening, ready for an early start in the morning. Bill brought the cargo (16 pieces) which was missing from the consignment ex "Muniara" to Nimos about a month ago. The mission had sent it across to Griffin Point by the District Commissioner (Timperly) about two weeks back. One rat in traps last night. Rus inspected the site where the Melomys was caught the night before last. Bought from the local chief, an old man, two very nice plain old wooden food bowls for the missionxxx Museum. The first anthropological objects I have gathered. I did not plan to do much in this line until we reach Rossel. Tuesday Sept. 25: Left Rambuso on the "Polyanna" at 6:20 am. Rather strong south-easter sprang up and after taking something of a beating with heavy seas we put in at Bamba, on the SW part of Rossel. Passed through Gwe Passage in the Barrier Reef to get to Bamba. Stayed there the night, sleeping ashore in a govt. resthouse. House roof faulty, but no rain fell. Few sandflies. At a hamlet east a bit from the anchorage, there is a platform of flint stones and giant clamshells, from which rise two sloping stone monoliths like those of Goodenough Island. This structure [illegible] right on the edge of the sea under big old Calophyllum trees. Called Chebaga, according to a local native (Songi) on the crew of the Polyanna; a talking place he said. The Osborne Brothers have a small plantation at Bamba, employing eight Gosiago boys. Fine big smokehouse of sago thatch. In conversation with Callanan, learn that he is a miner taken to trading and the sea. He is afraid of the sea. Could have run on to Abulet i in the conditions we had. A heavy-set red-faced short man of rough appearance and manner. Worked at Candlish's Dry Hash mine in the Etheridge in the mid-thirties. Came to Misima with the Guthbert concern before the war; was one of the two men sent back to reopen the mine after the war. Total of mammals collected on Sudest was 225, belonging to 14 species. There were 159 skins and skulls Frogs for island amounted to 296, snakes 12, lizards 15, freshwater fishes 49. Specimens of two species of freshwater crayfish were collected on the Mt. Riu slopes. Light trap results for Rambuso were the poorest yet; butterflies and Odonata fairly good. One or two new butterflies most days. Wed. Sept. 26: Raised anchor at Bamba at 6:55 am. Kept close outside the barrier reef in moderate seas (long ocean swell with not much break). Re-entered the [illegible] barrier through Gware Passage and anchored off Abaleti at 9:20. Anchorage is off a sand bar at the entrance to Abaleti Creek. The Osbornes (Hugh, Ron, and Uncle Eric) came off to meet us and take our cargo ashore in a launch. About half a mile up the creek, on the western bank they have a slipway and workshop where they have almost completed building a very fine 60-foot motor vessel called "Yelan Gili II." The first Yelan Gili was appropriated during the war and not returned. The second is to be taken our over the bar Monday afternoon, if conditions are favorable. Tides cannot be predicted with any accuracy. There is unlikely to be quite enough water on the bar to float the vessel. It is proposed to set one of the two 40 hp Lister diesels quarter astern, the other three-quarters ahead, and thus scour a passage in the soft sand for the ship. Hugh, the elder Osborne, is perhaps not yet 30 years of age. He is a shipwright by trade. (Learned of the Wright of Brisbane). Ron, a year or two younger, is a qualified Diesel engineer. They have been six years building their ship. All woodwork but the doors and cabin windows, is local pit-sawn timber, beautifully handled. Main timbers are Kiwini (Intaia), planking rul (a dipterocarp); decking white beech (Gmelina). Metal fittings are largely from wrecks on the Rossel barrier reef, a graveyard for ships. For instance, a fine brass ladder and copper tubing came off an American submarine which went up during the war. Other items are from a Japanese ship.