distant bushfires made conditions not too good for photographing the vast expanse of mountains seen to the west and south from this vantage point. The very summit of Thornton Peak was hidden in white fleecy clouds, and the sharp spire of rock surmounting Mt. Peter Botte poked out only now and then. Clouds were drifting toward Finnegan, so I had Willie boil the billy with water carried up from the stream, while I set about making pictures. Thousands of white rock orchids (Dendrobium) had opened their flowers since I was on the mountain two weeks before. These and the drying red leaves of a curious cushion plant made good subjects for color photos Finding the open rocky area too dry for spring herbs, if any occur there, I botanized in the stunted high mountain forest up to an altitude of 3500 ft. Results not very rich, but I found a solitary tree of Balanops bearing an abundance of orange-yellow fruits. Started back down the mountain at 3 o'clock; botanized to the edge of the rainforest at 2600 ft; shot 3 birds for Don, and got back to camp at 6 o'clock. I carried Don's .410 gun in the hope that I might come across another Hypsoprymnonodon at the higher levels. Roberts, returning from Cooktown, brought news that the "Wandana", enroute Thursday Island on her monthly trip, is due to sail from Cooktown on the 24th. Therefore decided to close camp here on the morning of the 23rd, move into Cooktown, and get our abo employees away on the boat. Not expecting the Wandana at such a convenient time, we had booked air passages for the boys before leaving Cooktown. Wed. Sept. 22: Preparing and drying the 34 numbers of plants gathered on the mountain yesterday. Thursday Sept. 23: By prior arrangement, Norman Watkin, returning from a trip to Mt. Poverty with 14 drums of kerosene, called in about 9 AM and we set out for Booktown. Stopped at the Lion's Den at Helenvale for morning tea, and to say goodbye to Mrs. Watkin, and were in Cooktown in time for a 1 o'clock lunch. Stopped in the gap through Black Mountain to make photos of this remarkable jumble of black-coated granite boulders. Sat. Sept. 25: The Wandana, due to sail from here yesterday, tied up to the wharf about midday today, and it is reported that she will not leave until noon tomorrow. So goes shipping on this abandoned cost. I have an air booking for Cairns for Monday's plane. Scheduled time of departure is 10 AM. Have just been informed that the plane will leave at 7 AM instead. In this way, to suit the current convenience of the one air company, are plane services run north of Cairns. Yesterday afternoon, George and Van returned from Elderbury, some miles up the railway, where they had spent a day and a night for the main purpose of hunting rock wallabies in a gorge in the sedimentary rocks of that area. Saw no rock wallabies, but jacked two Petaurus, and shot several small bats in railway culvert on the return journey. Came in with a work gang coming home to Cooktown for the weekend.