H.G. HAS INVITED ME TO USE CABIN AT ANY TIME. OUR MERCHANT MARINE IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH HIS TYPE. FAVORITE SHIP WAS THE PRES. COOLIDGE — STRUCK MINES + SUNG. SHOWED ME MANY PICTURES OF BEACHED OR GROUNDED VESSELS. TELLS ME 2ND MATE IS AN EXPERT MODEL MAKER — KNOWS BOAT TYPES VERY WELL — COLLECTION OF PICTURES. TOLD OF VESSEL OF THIS TYPE CARRYING 3400 TROOPS, SLEEPING TIERS & BUNKS HIGH — STAND IN LINE 3 HOURS FOR MEAL. + SPEIGHT WILMOT, LILLEY, GAFFNEY + I HAVE HAD INTERESTING TALKS. WE DISCUSS EVERYTHING FROM M. PROUST, 18TH CENTURY FRENCH ART COLLECTIONS, + COMMUNISM TO THE NEGRO QUESTION, GROWING COLORED COTTON IN AUSTRALIA, + THE NEW CAPITAL CITY OF AUST. CANBERRA; ALSO ATOM SMASHING, AMER. VS. AUST. POLITICIANS, HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION, CORRELATION OF NEW MEDICAL INFORMATION, BIRD WATCHING. IT IS FUN TO MATCH ONE'S IDEAS WITH THE ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIANS. WE HAVE SHAMEN DOWN INTO A GOOD CROWD. TODAY'S PAPER HAD A NOTE ABOUT REYNOLDS — BALL POINT PEN MILLIONAIRE — SENDING EXPEDITION TO WESTERN CHINA. AN INTERESTING TRIP — FIELD MUSEUM ? TEMP. 80° IN DINING ROOM TONIGHT. MEALS CONTINUE EX- CELLENT. PANCAKES FOR BREAKFAST, CHICKEN POT PIE FOR LUNCH, CONSOUME ROYAL, YA. HAM, CORN FRITTERS, ASPARAGUS TIP SALAD, CHOC. ICE CREAM + CAKE + GRAPES FOR DINNER. SPEIGHTS EX- PLAINED GOOD TEA MAKING TO ME TODAY. SAID AMER. NEVER USED ENOUGH TEA (1 LEVEL TSP. PER CUP + 1 FOR POT); AUST. NEVER USE ENOUGH COFFEE. MRS. SPEIGHT IS TAKING HOME 2 PRESTO PRESSURE COOKERS. BLUENESS OF WATER PARTLY DUE TO HIGH SALINITY. BLUE EVEN WITH COMPLETELY OVERCAST SKY. APPROACHING HAWAII, BUT WILL LEAVE WELL TO WEST. CHRISTMAS ISLAND MAY BE OUR FIRST LAND. SHOULD SEE MORE BIRDS TOMORROW. GEOFF AND I SLEEP LIKE 1 YR. OLDS. TO BED ABOUT 11:— + UP AT 7:30 — 8: THIS IS A NOISY SHIP — NO WOODEN DECKS — NO CARPETS, FEW CURTAINS. HOPE "HORY" STILL HAS "HIS" DOG!