With small boy IDAWAWAVETASON of the local mission teacher, a guide , I went to Lake LAVU in the center valley of the island. Hampered by rain, the down journey took 1-3/4 hours. Collecting on the return journey made it 2½ hours. Followed from the TUTU# REA trail at the foot of the grassland patch a fresh track with many branches and an approach to the lake climbed over a low range of hills. Reached shore on - SW side of lake, where people from this part of the country have a fishing camp. Shore steep-tc.On a point of land ca. 1/3 mile to W was a native hamlet and in front of it a small cut- rigger canoe on the bank. Shouting of women there. Men apparently away at the gardens, (A lot of activity now in clearing new garden ground). Was impressed with the efficiency and complete harmony with the environment of my small guide. Half hour or so from the lake we passed a new garden house occupied by a woman & two children (one of whom went bush when he saw us). Here the small boy procured a firestick. At the lake he started a smouldering fire within the shelter, found a yard of line & a hook, picked up a pole on the bank and in no time had caught a fish. By 11 o'clock when I called for rice to be cooked for the boy's lunch and my tea billy boiled, the youngster had 14 fishes of edible size. He offered me my choice. I took three of two different species as specimens. The rest he killed by beating with a stick, then dumped the string on the fire. The bait was a small, shrimp caught in the roots of the "water lettuce"(Fistio striatotus); I have 13 as specimens plus 18 small damsel flies from the grassy shore.A disappointing day botanically. I expected a gag of waterplants. Got only four (Pistia, a white Limn anthenus), an amphibious Cyperus and a remarkable amphibious Scirous 2 m. tall, with very thick 3-sngled stem). Shore too steep and water too deep where I was. All second growth rain forest from the grass patch to the lake. Sime big ILIMO trees on the flat lands of LILAI Creek. Good sandy loam. No water birds. I saw only a medium-sized grey heron and a pair of jacanas. No sight of a crocodile which are said to be plentiful. Lake appears to be well stocked with fish. Water sweet. Rock of the steep shore looked like a schist. Set the two mist nets beside flowering Kapok trees in the village, hoping for smg; flower-eating bats. One so far several nights where Fivistrellus fly near the rest house but yielded nothing. The pips fly around it as they would a haystack. Kapok is a noctur- nal iower. Briday June 22: SE weather continues, more or less Rain enough last night to stop jackkwy light hunting. Sharp showers between o & 2 PM. Collecting in primary rain forest. (the only area I have seen in the neighborhood) down the track, towards the grass patch for nine species including a cylindrical-fruited Pendanus which looks like one I collected at Waukaiuna & saw at Iamelele. A splendid red-backed Wormia is plentiful & very conspicuous, but sterile. Some other trees of first magnitude are present. A Macroclossus and a Dobsonia, plus a sunbird and another small bird, in the bat nets early this morning. Nothing in the traps last night. Jacking by Kim and Liklik spoled by rain. Lionel returned about 4 PM from KEDIDIA; a ten-hour walk. Reports good travel and ggradual ascent through the SALAKADI country to the Salame River divide . Salakadi Population extends about 1 hour past the divide, then 2 hours travel through unin- habited primary forest. Over 40 streams crossed, 16 villages en route. Lionel reports on outbreak of something which is killing the fish in the seas off Papua and from Goodenough Island south & east through the D'Entrecestaux. All resi- dents on the radio circuit have had official notices about it. Official opinion is that the cause might be seismic, or biological (i.e. "red tide" of Florida). Govt. Vulcanolo- gist Taylor reported on his way to investigate. Most of our boys spent last night at a big feast & dance at one of IL TUTUBEIA villages, 1½ hours walk from here. Lionel, who passed through the village this PM,