going from Samarai to the head of the Bay to meet the plane (Corsair comes every Friday) or is supposed to. A Government trawker went by in the same direction about an hour later. From Maluru Mark, who visited me in the afternoon, I learned that some official from Port Moresby was due to arrive on the plane to jpin Sheekey in choosing a site for a new government station in the bay. That would explain the pre- sence of the trawler. These eternal delays have lost us a lot of time on this expedition. I am hoping that Kitawa or the trawler, on their return to Samarai, will come close enough to Dawa Dava to be signalled. If this does not happen, I can get to Samarai, after some more delay, perhaps, on a small native-owned launch called "Wowoli", the property of MagaMagavillage. Asked Mahuru Mark to arrange for this. M.H. is a most intelligent native to whom one can talk in straight English. For- merly he was a captain of small ships owned by Kwato Mission and perhaps business firms of Samarai. He has been as far as Cairns, by air. Still it is hard for me to sustain a conversation with him. There is such a vast difference in background and interests to be bridged. He tells me that the Milne Bay Local Government Council area takes is a strip through the Sagarai Valley to Mullina Harbor on the southcoast. Much coffee is produced by natives in the valley. The Council builds public facilities such as wharves (a road from the head of the bay at Gibara (old goldfield) in to the Sagarai Valley is planned, to bring out the coffee), employs and pays the village policeman, has one small school, builds medical aid posts which are staffed by big government. To meet costs a tax of 3/10/- a year is levied on adult males, 30/- on adolescent boys, 20/- on women. A rise in basic rate to four pounds is under consideration. The above notes were barely finished when there was a call of "sail-ho" and a white- painted vessel was in sight, coming from the direction of Samarai. This turned out to be the "Kedeluma", picking up copra at Bunting's plantation in the bay. Dusty had sent out to me an icebox with some fresh steak and sausages and a bottle of cold beer. At 7:15 my cargo was on board and we left for Samarai. Arrived 10:05 pm and slept on the vessel at the wharf. Boys talked loudly until half an hour after midnight; a baby on a neigh- bor's boring boat began to cry before daylight. Saturday Dec. 3: Very hot day. No rain in Samarai since I left for Milne Bay a week ago. Manu houses are our of the rain water which they catch from their roofs as regular supply. Water is being carried from two shallow town wells. After unloading my cargo and moving my personal gear to Dusty's house, I went along to the government offices to get information on the hearer south coast, No one in administra- ton knew anything, except for a native policeman, who had been on a patrol there recent- ly. Was referred to Cottrell-Dormer, chief agricultural officer, who has made inspection visits connected with the experimental planting of coffee by the native people. He re- commended Dagegadoga, in in Suchia Bay, where there is good primary forest at some little distance inland, and as an alternative Dalina, about 10 miles further on. Sunday Dec. 9: In Samarai. A few points of rain from a thundershower last night. A complete day of rest for me. My first for a long tome. Monday Dec. 10: Left Samarai at 9:15 pm on Ernie Evennett's 26 ft. launch "Sirius". Ernie's initials are are E.W.). Called in at Rogeia(Rogeia) Island with a letter from Cottrell-Dormer to the leader of the community, a big fat man named Maraima. The Bogoia people have gardens and coffee plantations at Suahai Bay, and according t Donner a good house in at their coffee plantings, beside or in the primary forest. Found Manaime supervising, from the shade, preparations for a big Christmas do which is to br put on the beginning of next week. A shelter shed had been built, with temporary gal- vanized iron roof, and long rough seats, very high above the ground, in native fashion, put in it. About 100 school children, in two squads of four ranks, were marching back and forth, and singing, in a big grassy playing field. Some women in grass skirts were digging away the side of a hill for filling material which was being run on a a tramline to a hollow which was being filled tp enlarge the playing field. Maraima