ave left their houses, and are living in the bush
and under the shelter of rocks. Sogeri, Makipili says, will listen to no
conditions of peace. Several overtures have been made, but all are
useless. We were told at several places that if we ventured to Makipili
we should never return; but we have been there, were treated kindly, and
pressed to return.

4_th_.--Using our blankets yesterday as a flag for our tent, they got so
wet that it required a day to dry them, so we decided to remain here and
visit the Laroki Falls. Ten days ago, we found from the natives that
they were near here. The native name is _Round_. We found the falls in
a deep gorge formed by the west end of Astrolabe and east end of Vetura
Range. On each side of the gorge the mountains run sharp down, in many
places precipitous rocks. The falls are E. from Port Moresby, E.S.E.
from Moumili, and S.E. from Vetura proper. They are grand, and well
worth seeing. I wish we had seen them from below. For a long distance
up there are small falls and rapids. The water comes surging on, and
then takes a fearful leap of many hundred feet on to a ledge, and from
there to the boiling cauldron below. The noise is deafening. Where we
stood, nearly level with the water, it was 1340 feet above sea-level, and
I do not think that from there to the cauldron could be less than 900
feet. I think it may be possible to get to them from the north side by
Mangara, and then we can rightly tell the height of the falls.

5_th_.--Left Chokinumu this morning at eight, and had a pleasant walk for
three hours, ascending gradually the Astrolabe until we reached the
summit at the back of Tupuselei, 2300 feet high. We were resting before
descending, when a native party appeared and approached us, somewhat
scared. They said on coming up they heard the noise as of chopping wood
(we were marking trees). They came on, and saw through the bush a white
man, and at once went back; then, hearing as if natives were with him
speaking in Koiari, they returned and determined to meet. They were much
pleased at receiving a present of salt. We descended on the west side of
the Astrolabe; the descent, being steep and difficult, took us some time.
In the afternoon we arrived at Janara, near to Efari, at the back of
Pyramid Point, the Astrolabe bearing north. Our friend Lohiamalaka, the
chief of Geminumu Monito, and three youths are with us. I have never met
a kinder and more friendly nat