STROKE BUT HAS NOT TOLD HIM OF HIS SUSPICION. HIS ARM IS STILL PARTIALLY LIMP. HAS RECOMMENDED REST, NO MT. CLIMBING, + NO WHISKEY. SPENT THE P.M. SORTING OUT MY CLOTHES, LETTERS + PAPERS. TONIGHT Ailsa + Dusty INVITED LEN + GEOFF UP FOR A DUCK DINNER - DELICIOUS. THEN THEY STAYED A DRANK UNTIL 11:30. A.D. + I COULD HARDLY KEEP OUR EYES OPEN. I NEVER TIRE OF THE VIEW OF CHINA STRAITS FROM DUSTY'S HOUSE. THE S.E. BLOWS STEADILY + THE CLOUDS HAVE BEEN THREATENING ALL P.M. 256. (2.2.71) SUN, SEPT 13, 1953 109 SAMARAI. KEN WYNNE INVITED US TO A PARTY FOR HIS SAMARAI FRIENDS. GEOFF COULD NOT GO - VERY DEPRESSED (DO NOT MENTION TO MIRIAM). MASSAGED HIS ARM + SHOULDER FOR HIM. LOOFED ALL DAY. THE PARTY INCLUDED SOME DANCING + SHOWING. THE ONLY COMPLAINT ABOUT PARTIES HERE IS THE FACT THAT THE SAME PEOPLE ARE THERE ALL THE TIME. HOME ABOUT MIDNIGHT. WROTE LETTERS. 257. (2.2.8) MON. SEPT. 14 108 SAMARAI. GEOFF NO BETTER. CAME DOWN TO THE WAREHOUSE THIS A.M. + TOLD ME THAT HE WILL PROBABLY GO HOME INSTEAD OF GOING ON TO GOODENOUGH WITH US. HE CAN NOT USE HIS RIGHT ARM. LEN + I PACKED MOST OF THE DAY. KEN DRUMMED UP HIS BULK STORES. LEN + GEOFF GAVE A COCKTAIL PARTY FOR OUR FRIENDS. RATHER STUFFY. DUSTY, AILSA + I LEFT ABOUT 8:30. MET MR. JUDLEY RUT- LEDGE, THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, WHO IS HERE IN SAMARAI WHILE MR. MICHAEL HEALY IS ON LEAVE. MR. R. IS IN CHARGE OF THE ISLAND SUB DISTRICT; LIVES AT EISA'ALA ON NORMANBY ISLAND. MET AILSA'S MOTHER + FATHER AGAIN TODAY. MR. GRIBBEN IS RETIRING TO GOODENOUGH ISLAND - MUD BAY. LEN IS NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK FINDING INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISLAND. DUSTY'S BIRTHDAY - SEPT. 3; AILSA'S NOV. 5. AFTER WORK WENT HOME WITH NICK RUSSELL TO MEET MRS. RUSSELL. THEY HAVE A LOVELY HOUSE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND; S.E. SWEEPS THEIR OPEN AIR PORCHES. HE IS ENGLISH; SHE BELGIAN. THEY ENTERTAINED RU HOOGLAND WHEN HE CAME THRU S. ON WAY BACK WE SAW NATIVE WITH SMALL SNAKE. I CLAIMED HIM FOR THE COLLECTION. PROBABLY FIRST SNAKE REPORTED FROM S. TONIGHT ON THE WAY HOME WE FOUND ANOTHER SMALL SNAKE ON THE PATH. AILSA IS AN UNDERSTANDING HOSTESS - SHE EVEN PROVIDED A TAR.