31701-0020-0001

xxxx

me a few hours off. The harbour looked like a sheet of glass. Hundreds of lakatois dotted the horizon. This is my first experience of the doldrums. In the baths we were diving amongst brilliantly coloured fish to pick up coral in 20 feet of water. While I was swimming around Billy Rakataua & his daughter Kumuku (the native princess) noticed me & bec^k^oned me over. As I had ordered a grass rami I inquired when I could have it.
Kumuku looking very bashful took hers off & handed it to me. Of course she wore another underneath. Now it is in the M.D's tent ready for fumigation. Gee its prettily coloured.

I don't know how I managed to write at all last night. Eddie, Keith, & Smithy rolled in drunk as lords. They didn't settle down till 11.45. Except ^for^ one man the remainder of my section lost £10 in playing dice. It's an awfully hard job trying to knock any sense into them. The drunks opened their mail and read them aloud, afterwards tearing them up. It's a wonder they didn't get hurt. They fell on the cement floor a dozen times. Still kids will be kids. Practically everyone went off at 4am as carrying parties to Porebada & Maata so I had only three hours sleep.

Oh, Nance, your letters are thrilling to read. One of these days I'll be last seen heading for home in a canoe. I can't hear being away from you much longer, darling, I feel like a caged eagle.