Today I learned from Holland something of the history of our two former employees. Robert is well educated for an abo, and though young, he was made chairman of a council of natives which, until lately, ran the mission, or advised the man in charge. The councillor system did not work well, and was abolished. Am not clear whether this was before or after Robert earned himself the title of leader of the local "black socialists" by taking the floor at a village assembly and denouncing the rule of the white man. Bob's specialty in the past has been stealing horses and cattle. He was leader of a band which, in the period of disorganization after the war, went after Holland's cattle with 303 rifles and mōtor trucks. The trucks, used to carry the beef home, were driven by natives employed by Government in moving out surplus military stores. The gang was broken up when Holland's sons, Tom and Stan, somewhere in the bush, came across Bob and some of his men with the cut-up carcasses of three beasts in a truck, gave the boys a hiding, and confiscated truck and beef. Sunday May 2: Mail in from RIP late last night, by Tom Holland. Mack of the Qld. Museum advised by telegram that his man Vernon will be leaving Brisbane for Portland Roads on a John Burke boat sailing on the 16th. This means another alteration in John Burke's schedule, and a revision in our plans for work on the Tip. The boat mentioned by Mack should return southward from T.I. about May 28th, and it is the only boat now in sight to take us to Portland Roads about the time we want to move. Work went on as usual. George has about 75 traps out on a new line cut through the rain forest for about a mile. Van has about an equal number scattered in several areas. Had an unexciting day, collecting common plants within half mile of camp along the Somerset Road - savanna spp. and some from rain-forest borders. Monday May 3: With Geoff for company, collected on the south side of Laradenya Ck., near the crossing of the Cape York road. Plants mostly from a sour tea-tree flat, and from a small billabong waterhole where a few plants of a very fragrant blue waterlily (Nymphaea 18615) were in flower. An ironstone tableland of small size, rising rather sharply from near the creek, was already dry and yielded few plants. A nearly pure stand of bloodwood, about 50 ft. high, formed the savanna forest on the low tableland. Geoff to the carrier station on the telegraph line to make phone calls to T.I. in the morning. Rode over in Tom Holland's jeep, carrying a bike for the return trip. The alteration in John Burke steamer services, and the fact that as far as we know this company's boats are the only ones left in the coastal trade, makes it necessary for us to make arrangements for our move down to Portland Roads well ahead of time. Tuesday May 4: Collected up the Somerset road to where it turns into the "Big Scrub", about 2 miles from camp. Got only 19 spp. including 4 mosses (18644) remarkably like a grey species which grows about the base of cabbage palms in the hammocks of Florida. Collecting in the open country within practicable reach of camp has gone about as far as is possible. I still have to make a thorough examination of the rain forests.