263 234 Sun. Sept. 20, 1953 102 SAMBAI. THIS LOOKS LIKE OUR LAST DAY HERE. THE WEATHER IS BREAKING & THE SEA IS CALMER. NROTH MOTHER + MAY, SENDING MY DIARY TO DATE. READ & RELAXED. "JESSIE" MAY BE READY FOR OUR CHAPTER TRIP TO GOODENOUGH ISLAND TOMORROW. 264 235 Mon. Sept. 21 101 SILED PT 2:30 P.M. FOR GOODENOUGH VIA NORMANBY + FERGUSSON ISLANDS. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALL A.M. MOST OF OUR CARGO LOCATED BETWEEN SQUALLS. SUN OUT IN P.M. TIDE AGAINST US IN CHINA STRAIT. ALMOST FULL MOON TONIGHT. CALM SEA. 265 236 Tues. Sept. 22 100 ARRIVED NORMANBY ISLAND ABOUT 4:40 A.M. DOCKED AT ESA. ALL GOVERNMENT STATION. THIS IS ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS FOR ISLANDS OF THE ENTRECASTEAUX GROUP. PATROL OFFICER ROBERT GREANEY IS GOING WITH US TO GOODENOUGH ISLAND FOR A FEW DAYS. KEN SPENT TO OFFICE INTERPRETER WHO KNOWS SOMETHING OF INLAND TRIBES. NORM EVENNETT'S BOAT TIED UP AT WHARF TOO. HAD BREAKFAST AT I.O.'S HOME + SAILED AT 9:30. WE ARE NOW BOUND FOR FERGUSSON ISLAND TO DROP BILLY + SIGIMUTU OFF AT THEIR VILLAGES ON SOUTH COAST (THESE ARE GEOFF'S BOYS), MAINLAND N.G. BARLY VISIBLE TO SOUTH. CLOUDS HANGING AT ABOUT 1000 FT. ON FERGUSSON. ENTERED LARGE BAY AT WEST END OF FERGUSSON + DOCKED AT MAPAMOLWA, SITE OF A GOVERNMENT MEDICAL STATION. CHARLES CORBETT (MORESOY STRAIT) INVITED US FOR LUNCH BUT WE COULD NOT STAY. SAILED THRU PASSAGE BETWEEN FERGUSSON + GOODENOUGH N. PAST MUD BAY (VOLCANIC FUNNELS ON S. SIDE). DOCKED AT BOLO BOLO ABOUT 6:15 P.M. WE ARE STAYING IN A TIN- ROOTED OFFICE SHED PUT UP BY AMERICAN FORCES DURING WAR. CONCRETE FLOOR. ENOUGH ROOM FOR ALL OUR GEAR, GOOD WORK SPACE. WE ARE ON A COASTAL STRIP BACKED BY RIDGES TO THE WEST RUNNING UP TO 3,400 FT. TO THE NORTH THE SHARP TRAKS OF THE ISLAND ARE VISIBLE. THEY SET UP AT 7:30 P.M. KEN WILL SEARCH FOR A GOLD MT. CAMP AT ABOUT 600 FT. WE ARE IN GRASS COUNTRY WITH A FEW PATCHES OF SCRUB IN SOME OF THE HIGHER GULLIES. BROUGHT ESSENTIAL GEAR UP + TURNED IN EARLY. A BEAUTIFUL FULL MOON ROSE EARLY OVER FERGUSSON ISLAND. NO TRAP PING OR HACKING TONIGHT. 266 237 Wed. Sept. 23 99 GOODENOUGH ISLAND, BOLO BOLO. VILLAGE COUNCILORS + POLICEMEN HAD