3 THEREFORE, IF ONE CROSSES THE 180TH MERIDIAN (OR THE ADJUSTED INT. DATE LINE WHICH DOES NOT ALWAYS CORRE- SPOND EXACTLY TO 180°), ONE MUST ADD ONE DAY TO HIS RECKONING (IF WESTBOUND). THE BIRDS ARE STILL FOLLOWING ME! AT TEN P.M. WHILE I WAS WRITING HERE, SOME BOYS BROUGHT ME A BEAUTI- FULLY COLORED "LAND BIRD" - I CALL IT THIS FOR LACK OF THE PROPER FAMILY EVEN - WEAK-BILLED, GREENISH WINGS, WINE-RED CROWN + UNDER TAIL COVERTS - WILL LOOK IT UP IN THE LIB- RARY AT SUVA TOMORROW. I SKINNED HIM OUT WITH A RAZOR BLADE AND AN OLD PR. OF SCISSORS. HAVE HIM IN THE LOUNGE ICE BOX NOW - WILL MAKE SMITIN UP TOMORROW AFTER WE SAIL FROM SUVA. READ "STORM" TODAY - FINISHED. BY ALL ODDS THE MOST UNUSUAL THEME FOR A NOVEL I HAVE EVER HEARD OF. I KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT STORM METEOROLOGY THAN I DID BEFORE. COPIED WEATHER DATA + CODE CHART. LEARNED ABOUT DATE LINE FROM ANNAPOLIS TEXT IN BIRD'S OFFICE; WE ACTUALLY CROSS THE 180° AT 12:06 TOMORROW A.M. MR. SPEIGHT REPORTED A "LONG-BILLED BIRD LIKE A PETREL (UNDERPARTS LIGHTER)"! MAYBE I'LL SEE ONE TOMORROW, WHEN WE ARE AMONG THE ISLANDS OF THE FINI GROUP. THE CAPT. WAS NOT AT DINNER TONIGHT - PROBABLY RESTING SO THAT HE CAN BE ON BRIDGE EARLY IN A.M.. HAD TIDNEYS ON TOAST FOR BREAKFAST; AVOCADO SALAD, PORT & ICE CREAM FOR DINNER. DID SOME WASHING IN AFTERNOON. A QUIET DAY. GEOFF HAS RADIOED AHEAD TO FRIEND OF WILMOT'S TO ENGAGE PLANE RESERVATIONS (SYDNEY TO BRISBANE). WE HEAR THAT THE QUEENSLAND RAILWAYS ARE TIED UP WITH A STRIKE. WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE A LETTER FROM "LEN" BRASS IN SYDNEY WITH DETAILS ON HIS PLANS & OUR SCHEDULE. THERE WAS A BABY BORN ON BOARD SHIP YESTERDAY; ANOTHER WAS DUE TODAY. WE HEAR THAT DOCTOR RECEIVES A $50. BONUS FOR EACH ONE. [ WILL SEND THESE FIRST 14 PAGES OFF FROM SUVA TOMORROW IN 3 LETTERS. THEY ARE NOT TO BE SENT TO MISS NEUHAUS FOR COPYING. HAVE DECIDED TO SEND ONLY THOSE WRITTEN IN THE FIELD. ]