PACIFIC CROSSING = P PI FRIDAY - JAN. 30, 1948 ON BOARD S/S MARINE PHOENIX BREAKFAST WITH GEOFF. LETTER WRITING + PACKING. STARTED OUT FOR CHINATOWN. CABLE CAR TO TOP OF HILL. TODACHROMES. NARROW, SIGN-RIDDEN STREETS, COLORFULL, DIRTY, FULL OF GROCERY STORES, DRUG STORES, CHOP SUEY HOUSES. MOST INTERESTING WERE THE WINDOWS FILLED WITH DRIED FAUNA + FLORA. COLLECTED MY FIRST SPECIMEN IN A CHINESE DRUG STORE - A SMALL (8") LIZARD (SP.?) - SPLIT, GUTTED, PARTLY BONED WITH SUPPORTING STICKS FROM LEG TO LEG, FRONT PART OF HEAD CUT OFF. CHINESE LADY BOUGHT FOUR OF THEM WHILE I WAS IN STORE - HOW I WISH I COULD SEE TO WHAT USE SHE PUTS THEM. COST $1.25. ALSO DRIED SEA HORSES, CLAMS, OYSTERS, SQUID, CHICKEN FEET (WITH SOMETHING TIED IN FEET), CHICKEN GIZZARDS, SEA CUCUMBERS, ROOTS, SEEDS AND DOZENS OF ITEMS WHICH REMIND ME OF NOTHING I HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE. SOMEDAY I SHALL BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH A CHINESE DRUGGIST AND LEARN THEIR GOODS IN TRADE. THE GROCERY STORES WERE NEXT IN UN- KNOWN ITEMS. CHINESE CHILDREN SPENT BETTER SLANG THAN I DO, COULD NOT STAY LONGER. MRS. MCCASKEY CALLED TO SAY GOODBYE. HAD RECEIVED BIRD BOOK. GEOFF AND I CHECKED OUT OF HOTEL WHITCOMB. A MOST ADEQUATE PLACE FOR SHORT STAY. PIER 32 MATSON LINE. S/S MATSONIA + S/S PHOENIX BERTHED TOGETHER. BAGGAGE TAGGED AND PLACED UNDER LETTER STATION. PASSPORT + TICKET CHECKED QUICKLY. EVERYTHING HANDLED MOST EFFICIENTLY CONSIDERING NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMBARKING. TOOK TODACHROMES OF MATSONIA & PHOENIX. PORTER TOOK OUR LUGGAGE ABOARD - NO TROUBLE, BUT GEOFF & I KEPT OUR EYES ON HIM. HAVE HEARD OF MANY PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE LOCATING BAGS. MATSONIA SAILED AT 5:15 - MUCH PAPER TAG THROWING. PHOENIX AT 6:00 P.M. - TOO LATE FOR SUNSET BEHIND THE GATE. THE LIGHTS OF SAN FRANCISCO VERY LOVELY FROM WATER. GEOFF AND I STAYED ON DECK UNTIL WE WENT UNDER THE GOLDEN GATE SHIP LIFTING TO SWELLS JUST BEFORE BRIDGE. WE ARE NOW QUARTERING THE SEAS AND OCCASSIONALLY ROLLING VERY HEAVILY. WE ARE AT SECOND SITTING - CAPTAIN'S TABLE