The original Osborne Brothers, Harry and Eric, came to Rossel fifty years ago (Eric in 1906). A sign on the boatshed reads, "Established February 10, 1905." Harry, father of the two boys, died some years ago (since the boat was started). Eric seems to have got rid of his interests in the property and to have spent his time since the middle thirties at Bulolo in New Guinea and in the big timber area pf SW West Australia. He served as a tugboat engineer with American small ships during the war (Hollandia, Philippines, Okinawa, and later Korea). Now about 70 years of age. Mrs. Harry Osborne survives and lives at Abeleti. Also here are Hugh's wife and two small children. Eric came to help finish the boat, 15 months ago. The Osbornes have on Rossel several small coconut plantations besides Abeleti and Bamba, also trade stores, a 50-foot launch and a smaller one for inside the reef/ work on visits to their plantations and stores. My impression from the old reports was that Rossel was entirely forested, but today several grass patches were seen along the coast between Bamba and Abeleti. The island is mountainous, but apparently there are several fairly extensive valleys at low elevations on creeks along the south coast. We heard that the coconut parrot was not found on Rossel, but they are at both Bamba and Abeleti. Another report was that there was no betel-nut on the island. Eric Osborne tells me that one species (minor) grew here and was chewed, originally, and that the big betel-nut is now grown in quantity. No rainfall records have been kept at Abeleti, which is a pity; rainfall is very heavy, as the result of SE clouds being bottled up in the valley. At the Catholic Mission at Jingu, on the NE coast, and the mission has periodical shortages of water. Upon arrival at Abeleti we had the choice of two government resthouses, equally small, one on the beach, with muddy tall mangrove swamp behind it, the other on a slope at about 150 feet. Chose the latter, with as yet no boy's barracks, which is close to a medical aid post in charge of a native orderly. A fine view of the reef and passage, mountains rising rapidly inward and on a somewhat higher rise about a mile west across Abeleti Creek, the big old house of the Osbornes. Sandflies trouble- some, even on the hill. It is the most inconveniently situated camp we have had. I feel that we are going to have to do a lot of track cutting to open up the country. We have our bulk supplies in Osborne's store, but the work of carrying the rest of the supplies and gear up the hill from a landing in the mangroves occupied until four in the afternoon, giving only enough time to rig a fly over the floor of an old resthouse next door. This will be the work fly when another one can be rigged for the boys. Thursday Sept. 27: Much rain during the night, the drift being from inland. Some thunder with the rain. The reddish clay of the camp site very muddy this morning. A leak developed over Lionel's bed; much profanity. I usually got the leaks. Dull threatening morning; a little sun in the afternoon. Camp rigging about complete. Rus behind with his arrangements. I am established in the kitchen of the old resthouse. Traps are out tonight. Lionel got on the radiophone with Samarai this morning. The "Muniara" is due to leave Woodlark for Samarai about 5 weeks hence. If we can get across to Woodlark from Rossel in the Osborne's new boat (we should know about this after Monday), we will be able to plan 5-6 weeks work for this island and 2-3 weeks for Woodlark. Have made out a small order of stores to be radioed tomorrow for shipment here by the "Muniara" next week, enough to see us safely over two months. Callanan left this morning and is reported to have a tossing as he went out the passage. I hope it continues. He overcharged me for the trip. A charter rate of 20 pounds a day for three days -- a day too much, as he is on a trading voyage.