168. This morning George and Van left to spend the weekend at Seagreen's farm, about 14 miles out of town on the Endeavour River. This time their main object is the whiptail wallaby. Cocktown is celebrating the Kennedy Centenary today. A sports meeting in the main street, and the unveiling of a monument to Kennedy and his party. In 1848, Kennedy, leading a party of 13 men, made the first land exploration of the Cape York Peninsula. Kennedy was speared by the blacks, and all but two of his followers perished. Dan O'Brien, secretary of the Royal Geographical Soc. of Queensland, was here for the occasion. Mrs. Boyd, 83-year old pioneer of the Peninsula (wakka went to Merluna with her husband in 1888) did the unveiling. Hodges, chairman of the Cook Shire Council, was leader of the piece. I was roped in to take a seat of honor and make a speech. Sunday Sept.26: It was about 4 PM, and subsequent to several false rumors of her starting time, that the Wandana sailed for Portland Roads and Thursday Island. Aboard were our three blackboys and Joe the cook. I was not at the wharf to see them off. There had been too many tearful farewells from Joe in the bars of the town for me to feel like facing another. Today, however, Joe was in reasonably good shape; shaved, bathed, and dressed in good new brown shoes, gaberdine pants, white shirt and panama hat. He even appeared for lunch on the ship, I'm told. Like most hard-drinking men, Joe eats nothing when really on the booze. Joe has plans to go prospecting in the remote and little known Escape River country. With him, if things work out, will be a white partner (Dard McDowall, I believe) and a blackboy. Gold seems to be the main attraction. There are vague stories of gold in that area, although by whom found I can not learn. Jack Gordon has no doubt been through the Escape River country on one or other of his long trips into the bush. Just before World War II, or it may have been World War I, two prospectors were lost in the general area which includes the heads of the Escape and Jardine Rivers. Dick Holland was one who searched for them. The bones of one [illegible] of the lost men were found. Nothing has been seen or heard of his mate. At the outset of their trip they landed on the cost from a boat, and they travelled on foot. A present day attraction in the Escape River country, and one which is not spoken of out loud, is the reported presence there of wrecked American aircraft which came down during the war and might contain some good loot. Adventurers up Thursday Island way talk of making an effort to find these aircraft, but I doubt if anyone has actually made an attempt. It was whispered to me that if I took our expedition into the Escape country we might find something "worth while." Dolf Perkins, a very good bushman and prospector of Portland Roads, is building a boat with the expressed intention of taking a crack at the Escape River country. Joe will have some of our discarded camp gear in his outfit. A tent of U.S. Army green duck, the lamp he used, some cooking utensils, etc. He bought a stock of groceries in Cooktown. And amongst his stores were 6 bottles of OP rum which he swore he would land intact for the entertainment of the friends who were sure to be gathered on the wharf to meet the Wandana at Portland Roads. Toward the end of his job with us, Joe saved pumpkin, papaya, granadilla and citrus seeds to plant at his camps in the bush. I wish him luck. He did a good job for us, except when the booze had hold of him, and that was whenever he could get enough to drink.