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88 Haiti 24.

^[[VIII-12-35]] Mr. Barnes drove us out to see a sisal fibre mill. ^[[J]] It is on a properly in which he has some sort of interest, between Bon Repos and Monlet at the foot of the mountains on the north side of the Plaine du Cul de Sae. The sisal plant is somewhat similar to the [[magucy?]] but without lateral [[strikethrough]] leaves [[/strikethrough]] ^[[spines]] on the leaves. When crushed, the leaves yield long while fibres very similar to hemp (many are over two feet long and are easily broken by hand). This is a very small mill, run by a 40 horsepower diesel engine, and pulling out about five bales of 500 lbs. each daily. The fibre is worth 4 cents a lb. at present.
^[[O]] In this same area we saw many of the blackbird with the thick upper bill. I believe these are the Savanniah Blackbirds. They were common in Jamaica also but in both places are sometimes called crows. Jamaica also has a plain billed blackbird - the Jamaica Blackbird. [[J]] This afternoon brought accounts up to date and find that we have spent practically half of our year's income and 2 1/2 months! Our expenses other than board and room are going to be much less here than they cover in Jamaica, it's a good thing! [[end page]] 
[[start page]] 89

^[[VIII-13-35]] Tried to start out early today and got off about 8:15. went along coast through [[Gressier?]] and Leogane and then south a short distance beyond Trouin on the road to [[Jacinel?]]. The elevation is said to be about 1000 ft. but I didn't notice much [[clined?]].
[[underline]] Station 24. [[/underline]]
Vicinity of Trouin, between Leogane and [[Jaconel?]]. A law pass between two small rivers. Brushy river bottom.
^[[I]] Tried beating and sweeping but got little except four of the large grey and red weevils and a large series of smaller black weevil. ^[[A]] Under stones found a three-inch centipede, ^[[B]] yielded quite a few ^[[(16)]] Staphs that appear to be chiefly [[Oxyfelids?]]. Apparently two species of  [[underline]] Canthon [[/underline]] and  [[underline]] Aphodius [[/underline]], and a large [[Sphacridiinse?]] ^[[J]] also. The day was hot and threatening and I'm afraid I didn't work very hard. The natives were rather numerous and I'm still shy about collecting in certain situations when I have an audience. The ride home is rather firing as the road seems better than it is and invites a speed which nearly leads one in the ditch.