254 (2.25) FRI. SEPT. 11, 1953 ON BOARD THE "CAPE NOGEL" (CAPT. WILLIAM SMITH). AFTER A LONG NIGHT OF CAT-NAPS IN ONE OF OUR CANVAS SHAWS + A FEW BREAKS FROM THE GABIN TO DICK FOR FRESH AIR, WE WERE COMING UP ON EAST CAPE ABOUT 6 A.M. TRIP ACROSS MOUTH OF MILNE BAY DOWN THRU CHINA STRAITS TOOK ANOTHER 5 HOURS. IN THE STRAITS WE WERE BOOK- ING 4-5 KNOT TIDE FLOW (ACTUALLY HITS 7 KNOTS SOMETIMES). ALLEN & ROSS WEBSTER DOWN TO GREET US - ALSO THE NEW FAMILIAR SMELL OF DRIED COPRA. ALLEN TOOK ME UP TO "DUSTY" MILLER'S HOUSE FOR LUNCH & BUCKY! FOR THE DURATION OF MY STAY IN SAMARAI. REAL AUSTRAL- IAN LETTUCE FOR LUNCH. BY THE TIME I REACHED THE DOCK (AT 1:30 P.M.) KEN HAD THE UNLOADING WELL UNDER WAY. I UNPACKED MY LATEST SKULL SPECIMENS FROM BAIWA + NUMBERED + CATALOGUED THEM. 1621 SPECIMENS FOR THE MAINLAND PHASE OF OUR EXPEDITION. HAVE ALL MY GEAR TO- GETHER IN THE BUNTING BULK SHED - WHAT A RELIEF! OVER TO THE SERVICE MEN'S CLUB AT 4:30 TO MEET SOME OF MY FRIENDS. KEN'S MATE, LIONEL, WAS IN FROM AN ISLAND TRIP & THE TALES OF THE EXPEDITION HAD BEGUN. MAIL FROM MOTHER, DOROTHY + DR. ANTHONY (SEPT. 2). DINNER WITH DUSTY + ALLEN + TO BED IN THEIR LOVELY HOUSE WITH A VIEW UP CHINA STRAITS AT 10: P.M. THEY ARE BUILT- ING ANOTHER HOUSE NOT FAR AWAY IN A STILL LOVELIER SPOT. A FRIEND, CECIL ABLE, FROM MILNE BAY IS DOING THE CONSTRUCTION. FATHER THE FOUNDER OF KWATO MISSION - HE IS MISSION TRAINED AND A CAMBRIDGE GRADUATE. HE HAS A NATIVE WIFE + A LOVELY HOME ON S. SIDE OF BAY. IT SEEMS STRANGE TO BE IN A PROPER BED AGAIN, AND I CAN HAVE ALL THE GINGER BEER I CAN DRINK. GEOFF HAS A LIMP RIGHT ARM TODAY. MAY BE SERIOUS - PERHAPS A RESULT OF ACCUMULATED FATIGUE + NERVOSNESS. LEN WANTS TO LEAVE FOR GOOD ENOUGH NEXT TUESDAY IF WE CAN FIND A BOAT. 255 (2.2.6) SAT. SEPT. 12 SAMARAI. WENT DOWN TO SHED TO TAKE CARE OF SKINS & START MY REPACKING. GEOFF + LEN TO HOSPITAL TO SEE DOCTOR. LEN HAD X-RAYS TAKEN OF HIS STRAINED SHOULDER - NOTHING WRONG. DR. BELIEVES THAT GEOFF HAS HAD A VERY SLIGHT.