hut we could use at P.R.; he offers us the use of the RAAF huts at Iron Range Field. (Fisher owns all the old army camps in this gen- eral area; and is dismantling them and selling the materials). Sunday, February 15 Rain again last night; fairly fine morning followed by more rain; about 1½ inches in all. Climbed to the old radar post on the highest of the Aylen Hills (390 ft.) and photographed the country. Fine views of Cape Weymouth, Cape Griffith, Weymouth Bay and the mountains inland. Learning more of the country and the people in it. About twenty whites all told in the P.R.-I.R. area, mining gold and tin or out prospecting. Jack Gordon is the super-bushman. With a dog or two, a 22 rifle, fly and what stores he can carry, roams all over the area on foot. Made a fortune out of Iron Range gold years ago; now has about £10,000 in the bank, but keeps on trying to find a real bonanza. Dolf Perkins ranks next to Gordon for knowledge of the area about Iron Range. Monday, February 16 Went to sleep last night with rain beating on the roof of the old AAF hut I occupied, and water running down through rust holes to the floor around my army bed. About 12:30 Fisher woke me. Dressing and going down to the house, I found the Lochiel crew sitting around a bottle of Fisher's O.P. rum. They got to P.R. about dark. The "Wandana", north bound, arrived soon after, and while cargo was being unloaded, the steward opened the bar. Fishers both annoyed about getting no notice of the Wandana's arrival. They missed the beer. More than that they missed contact with the outside world which comes but once a month with the arrival of this ship. The captain might have spared a pound of steam for a whistle. The Wandana brought a party of ten Main Roads men in charge of E. R. Pinwell; also two prospectors who want to push through to Wenlock with a small, heavily-loaded utility (= pick-up) truck. Noticed a full-size typewriter amongst the belongings of the prospectors. The men looked scarcely like the general run of gold prospector. They will have fun in getting through to Wenlock. We have had 14-15 inches rain at P.R. since Friday and the Pascoe will be high for a long time if rains continue. Left P.R. on the Lochiel 7.30 AM. Bucked a strong southeaster all day and the boat being out of meat, we trolled lines for fish. The only catch was a bonita of the red-fleshed kind, which was thrown away as not fit to eat. Tuesday, February 17 Kept going all night. Wind increasing. Sea very rough even here inside the Great Barrier Reef. At 7:00 AM dropped anchor under lee of Burkitt Island, 99 miles from P. R. We anchored to fish with "long shrimps"; i. e., gelignite. The d ngyh was put overboard, then the crew decided the skipper had anchored too far out (as he had). The idea of getting fish was abandoned, and we were under way again by nine o'clock.