258 (229) Tues. Sept. 15, 1953 107 SAMARAI. HOLIDAY - ANNEXATION OF PAPUA BY QUEENSLAND. RAIN SQWALLS BEATING BY ISLAND ALL DAY. 19000 TON ENGLISH COPRA FREIGHTER DOCKED THIS A.M. A TRICKY OP- ERATION BECAUSE OF THE CORAL REEFS NEAR THE DOCK. THERE ARE 18,000 TONS OF COPRA IN THE WAREHOUSE. LEN YAN & + I HAD A SHORT CONFERENCE IN P.M. GEOFF IS LEAVING FOR HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TEN WILL TAKE OVER SOME OF HIS COLLECTING. WE MAY HAVE A BOAT FOR GOODENOUGH BY FRIDAY. CALLED AT THE HOSPITAL ON TION OF THE HILL & HAD A BEER WITH THE 2 SISTERS + THE ERICSONS. THEY HAD EXPECTED GEOFF TO SPEND THE NIGHT THERE RESTING, BUT HE DECIDED TO STAY AT THE BUNTINGS. LENN, GEOFF DIDN'T GO TO BED LAST NIGHT. THEY SURE LIKE THEIR PARTIES LIQUID. AILSA + DUSTY HAD A GUEST FOR DINNER TONIGHT + WE TALKED UNTIL 11 P.M. SAW AN OSPREY CARRYING A FISH TO THE ISLAND TODAY. 259 (230) WED. SEPT. 16 106 SAMARAI. WORKED ON SPECIMENS MOST OF DAY. THE PAGES (COLORED) OF THE SAT EVE POST ARE AFFECTED BY THE FUMES OF THE PARADICHLOR +/OR NAPTH. THE COLORS HAD RUN TOGETHER IN THE PAPER WHICH I HAD USED TO WRAP SKIN SPECIMENS. ONLY A FEW SKINS HAD COLOR SPOTS ON THE UNDERPARTS - ONE HAD A PINK NOSE! I REWRAPPED ALL POST SPECIMENS. MAIL CAME IN ON THE MORNING FLYING BOAT. LETTER FROM MOTHER + ONE FROM MIRIAM CAN. PLANE GOES ON TO RABAUL + RETURNS TO SAMARAI 2 DAYS LATER. HARD RAIN SQWALLS TONIGHT. DUSTY IN BED EARLY. AILSA + I TALK- ED LATE. A LONG LETTER TO DUSTY FROM DR BILL SYMTHE WHO LAST HIS SHIP ON BARRIER REEF + LIVED ON THE WRECKED LIBERTY SHIP THERE FOR 13 DAYS. DETAILS MADE A FASCINATING STORY. HE MADE THE BAD MISTAKE OF TAKING 2 GREENHORNS WITH HIM ON BLUE WATER. 260 (231) THURS. SEPT. 17 105 SAMARAI. GEOFF LOOKS MUCH BETTER. HAS A BOOKING ON THE MALAITA (3000 TONS) SAILING NEXT MONDAY FOR SYDNEY. WILL SAIL FOR LONDON EARLY IN OCTOBER. THIS WILL BE THE BEST MEDICINE OF ALL FOR GEOFF. GAVE HIS ARM A MASSAGE BEFORE DINNER. FINISHED REWRAPPING MY SKINS TODAY. POISONED ALL 4 KNOCKDOWN BOXES WHICH TEN OPENED FOR ME. BOUGHT A SMALL COLLECTION OF STONE AXES + WAR CLUBS + CARVED WOODEN OBJECTS FOR OUR ANTHROPOLOGY DEPT. $15 FOR.