THE "Betty Ann" IS ON THE WAYS. SARIBA ISLAND IS A HISTORIC SPOT; ON THE HILL JUST UP FROM THE BOAT YARD THE MEET HOMESTEAD WAS BUILT. LATER THE EICHORN BROTHERS LIVED THERE. ALL WERE BRITISH MUSEUM COLLECTORS - CHIEFLY BIRDS, AND INSECTS. 312 (283) SUN. NOV. 8, 1953 53 SAMARAI. DUSTY, AILSA + I SET OFF ON THE "WARI" FOR JOINI ISLAND (CLEM RICH HAS A PLANTATION THERE). WE WENT AROUND TO THE SOUTH SIDE + I WENT ASHORE WITH 2 OF THE LOCALS WHO WERE TO SHOW ME AN OVERHANG WHERE SEVERAL DOZEN HUMAN SKULLS HAD BEEN DEPOSITED. COLLECTED 1 SKULL, 2 LOWER JAWS + SOME ODD TEETH. ALSO A PIPE. ALL SEEMED QUITE RECENT. THE PLACE IS WET + IN PATH OF A RAIN GULLY. SOME BONES ARE DISINTEGRATING. THE SUAU PEOPLE (ISLAND IN EASTERN PAPUA) ARE SAID TO BURY THEIR HEAD WITH THE HEAD ABOVE GROUND WITH A CLAY COOKING POT OVER THE HEAD. NO LIMB BONES FOUND WITH SKULLS. WENT SWIMMING (WITH PLENTY OF SUNBURN CREAM). AILSA DUG UP A TREE FOR HER NEW GROUNDS. I COLLECTED A FEW SHELLS FOR MISS GROBE. SWIMMING AGAIN AT JECALJICA. 313 (284) MON. NOV. 9, 52 SAMARAI. PACKING. 314 (285) TUES. NOV. 10 51 SAMARAI. FINISHED CRATING 315 (286) WED. NOV. 11 50 SAMARAI. ALL DETAILS FOR FLIGHT HOME ARRANGED. 316 (287) THUR. NOV. 12 49 SAMARAI TO CAIRNS BY FLYING BOAT. LEN CAMERAS FAR AS PORT MORESBY. HE IS STAYING TO FINISH UP EXPEDITION BUSINESS. SOME LITTLE BUREAUCRAT WIRE US THAT THEY WOULD NOT GIVE US AN EXPORT PERMIT UNLESS WE LEFT A SET OF PLANTS + ZOOLOGICAL SPECIMEN DUPLICATES IN PORT MORESBY. IT WOULD TAKE WEEKS. HOW SILLY CAN SOME PEOPLE BE? CUSTOMS ALSO WANTS TO CHARGE US 10% OF THE VALUE OF MATERIAL USED IN PAPUA (ABOUT A$60). AND YET WE ARE GIVING THEM COLLECTIONS WORTH FAR MORE! RAN INTO RAIN SQUALLS OUTSIDE OF CAIRNS. AMBULANCE WAITING. TO GENERAL HOSPITAL. AFTER DINNER AT HIDES HOTEL I CALLED UP GEORGE BROOKES (SONS JOHN + EDWARD). HAD A PLEASANT EVENING. 317 (288) FRI. NOV. 13 48 SAMARAI TO BRISBANE TO SYDNEY. GEORGE DOWN TO SEE GEOFF.