25. P. 15 6.40. Passed mouth of Rome River. The tide at Gija seemed a bit queer. The bid high tide came last night about seven oclock. I looked out at 3 this morning and the water was dead low; yet here we are on a slightly falling or practi cally slack water which is certainly many feet deeper than threehours ago. Quite a large number of fruit bats flew over Giza last night, travel- ing as at Tarara SW. Much too high to shoot at. No smaller bats seen, thought looked for. Clearing the slightly winding stretches below Giza and the first part of the long N*S stretch at 9.40 a.m. The tide has been running up very x slightly against us, but it should run out very soon and keep retiring u until about two oclock or perhaps three. Actually slack of the tide came at 9.30, but it hadn' started to run out when we reached the Large Lira River which comes in from the East after the islands and sea at the mouth of Mai Kussa had been sighted. The mouth is still some miles off, I reckon. We tied up to some mangrove trees about noon to let a little squall blow over. Then pushed on with the little waves slapping the bows of the canoes to Azasako, about a mile and a half inside the mouth of the river. However as it was then 12.40 and the real afternoon tide was beginning to flow, moreover the wind stayed pretty fresh, I considered it better not to try to go outside to Buji (which faces an open roadstead), but to secure the canoes, more everythingshore that might be wetted by afternoon showers, and wait over two meals (noon and evening) for the wind to moderate, the moon to rise (it is only just past full), and for the big evening tide to start to ebb. If that works right we shall go around to Buji on smooth watery getting there around ten or eleven oclock tonight. Azasako is a continuation of the limestone formation, more worn down and its cap of laterites more concentrated. The tides are cutting at the little ridge continually. The place appears quite old, as there are old coconut, mango and Poinciana trees here. It is at present deserted, and the boys are enjoying themselves with the mangos. Saw several fragments of kangaroos skulls about the house. 5.45 Water and wind smoothed out and two hours of daylight yet, so decided to push on and try to reach our destination this evening. Got out to the low headland that marks the east side of the river mouth just at 7.30, then ran into a slight east wind which checked us but soon died down. Traveled east long the coast, with the island of Boigu invisible on our right, we at length turned into the little mangrove-fringed cove that marks Buji. Got there at 8.30. A couple of dim lights showed while we were off shore, but as we drew in close a number of coconut flares lit up the tiny village of half a dozen houses. It was New Years eve, and they were all set to celebrate. However most everything was put off. Fri. Jan 1, 1937. At 5 oclock in the morning the New Years dance was heralded by drumming on a bamboo, gradually increasing the speed. Next the local inhabitants, about six men and six women paraded around the huts beating drums and chanting, occasionally breaking off to cheer. Four small fires had been lighted in a rectangle to give light. The moon was still bright, but I reckoned I'd finished sleeping so I got up. As daylight came the dance faltered and finally ended. Got organized by 9 or 10: workshop fly up, work table made, things unpack- ed and arranged, kitchen affairs settled. A Petaurus and a large Uromys were brought in quite soon. Also have two of Rand's old boys skinning birds. Lots of ducks here in the swamp behind the village, also the regular run of kingfishers, leatherheads, small bronzy doves, etc.