20 baskets of native food, and 40 pounds in money. These people have trade with booker IslandFrom the Bookers they buy or exchange cooking pots for sage and baskets which the women make. There is also trade with Rossel, the red coconut parrot (and perhaps other species) being traded for bagi (shell money). For a parrot the Sudest people can get a string of bagi worth up to about six pounds. Pigs also traded to Booker Id. Lionel shot thisxarea ternoon four blue pigeons which provided us a really excellent meal of soup, breast steaks and wingsand legs. Mostly the cook overdoes fresh meat. This evening I gave him the ample leftovers to eat and savour, so that we may hope for a repetition of this evening's success. For some reason which I donot know and have not inquired into, the white traders, I am informed by Bom, are not interested in buying gold from the natives of the island. Gold is to be had in "plenty," says Bom. They can't sell it, so don't work the streams for it. All the traders ask for is copra, shell, and gum. In Samarai I saw recently in the illicit possession of Fred Riley an estimated 3-1 oz of good coarse gold which had been bought on Sudest at 6 shillings a pennyweight the regular price according to Fred. Gold buyers have to be licensed and declare all their traffic in the metal. Riley was drunk and spilled about half of his gold through Buntins back steps. FridayAugust 17: Heavy rain from 4:30 am to about six; drizzle until about eight; sharp shower about 11 followed by drizzle. No rain afternoon or early evening. SE weather. Lionel was to have started this morning on a reconnaissance of Mt. Rattlesnake (or Riu) but the councillor who was to be guide, and the carriers, did not turn up. He is ready for an early start in the morning. Botanized inland to a distance of a mile or better by a good track which climbs quickly up a kangaroo-grass spur from camp. Reached an elevation of perhaps 400-500 ft., which I have called 100 m. on the plant lablos. Forest in the gullies on both sides of the spur. Secondary at first. Later primary forest relies from which I collected some good trees (Syzgium, Parinarium aff. nonda, Fagraea, Weinmannia, Buchanania. A good soft cover of Themeda, about knee high or less on the open ridges. Collected an Ophliusus? and saw Borghastrum and Eriachne? in grasses. Accompanying herbs practically identical with those of Fergusson and Misima. Pimelea, Euphorbia (Chamaesyce), Phyllanthus, Borreia (not previously collected), Osbornia, Hypoxis, etc. A small shrubby snapaper fig scattered on the grassland ridges as a shrub. Shot last night were 10 specimens of mammals (Pteropus hypomelamus; P. consp- icillatus, Phalanger orientalis (very dark), Nyctimene geminus, Dobsonia), and taken from about 130 traps out were two rats which except for their white bellies looked like Rattus ruber. Only three mammals previously recorded from the island: Phalanger orientalis, Pteropus hypomelamus, and Petaurus breviceps. We heard the Petaurus last night. Work on camp rigging and conveniences finished this am. Some insects and frogs collected. A spell of poor weather for field work. Saturday August 18: Heavy intermittent showers most of day from 6:15 am. Some sun in mid-afternoon. Still more or less rainy tonight. SE weather. Started late into the field, to east of camp along coast, and gathered in all 15 numbers. Nothing of special interest, perhaps. A common Pandanus of open places, with syncarpous drupes. A small Gnetum. Pandanus of open places A green floccored