At Neate's slip and storehouse at Kropan, on the east side of Kwaipen Bay, I photographed, in bad light one of the three big sailing canoes which arrived this morning from the Egum Group of islands. Photographed another of the canoes under sail in the bay. Could see not a thing of European manufacture on the canoes: mat sails of the rectangular type used in the Calvedos Chain, native twisted rope; sail hung from a sort of gibbet arrangement on the mast. The canoes brought 32 bags of copra to sell (worth 2/5/-per bag). The Egums are cut of tobacco, hence the voyage, carried out on a fair wind. They are also going to dive for some sort of shells (probably armshells). The Egums are an atoll group about 50 miles SW from Kulumadau. Population about 70. Nine men and two small boys came on the canoes to the Egums are in the lula circuit. They voyage from their islands to Kulumadau, but following the loss of a canoe and six men, three years ago they have not participated. There was one survivor from the lost canoe, a young man who was in today's group. He floated for 12 days on a bit of wreckage before picked up. The Egum canoes are made at Gawm Island, in the Marshall Group. Big, thin-planked, broad, open craft with heavy outriggers. One I measured by placing was about 40 feet long. A couple of small bats shot at camp by Rus last night. Lionel, walking out to Dekoias Village in the afternoon, and jacking back, collected Petaurus and Nyctimene geminus. These additions bring the collection to 14 species for the island. A big row in the boys' camp tonight - the first we have had on the trip. The three Morima boys, Isulele, Liklik and Tauqova tackled Kim the cook Isulele using a heavy ebony stick in the attack. The trouble started over a limestick and a string of beads, which the cook thought one of Morimas had stolen. The cook made bad talk about the sexual habits of their mothers and wives and it was on. Lionel, with me in support, broke up the brawl, and somewhat damaged the Morimas with his fists. Knives and axes were lying all over the place but no motion was made to pick one up. Friday Nov. 9: Sent my boys out in the morning while I prepared yesterday's collection. They did not do too well, so in the afternoon I, too, did some collecting near camp. For the week ended today I have three numbers under the 100 mark which I considered good average collecting for plants in a rain forest area. Nine mammals all told last night, including Rus, new for the [illegible] island, and two small bats netted (with a butterfly net) in the house. The Petaurus jacked by Rus. The Petaurus jacked by Rus. Yesterday an Emballanura was caught hanging under a leaf of some kind in the rainforest. Examined another hole in the ground and went to the old naval wireless station to hunt for bats. No results. The old station said to be a very large, massively built concrete structure. Built in 1914 its range was to Townsville! A message came by radio today advising that Reg and Mrs. Neate will be leaving Australia for home on the 24th. At that rate it is not expected that they will arrive in Kulumadau until about December 4th. That is much too late for us to think of staying on the island. Will begin Monday on trying to make arrangements for a boat to pick us up earlier. From what I can see now, we will be ready to leave Woodlark after about the end of next week. Saturday November 10: Dull, overcast day. Air movement from SW. Heavy rain for over an hour in late morning, accompanied by thunder. Set our for the old mining center of Busai, about 3 miles SE of here, but owing to the rain had to turn back before reaching it. Crossed three creeks, and must have been close Busai. More big tall trees in the forest towards Busai, but it is still a very poor forest, much cluttered by ferny undergrowth. Collected my first palm for the island: a rather nondescript feather-leaved species. Left camp before mammal results were in this morning. Rus left with Lionel on a two day excursion to Kekoias, Taurai, and Mt. Kabet, primarily to hunt bats in caves, so I have no tally for mammals (they are in the bottom of the household icebox). Our personnel, excepting the cooks and my two boys, carried the party as far as Dekoias. Local carriers would be taken from there.