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Dominica #14.

we have the feeblest lights imaginable. The current coming to the radio is very likely just as poor.

[[margin]] Tues. June 2. [[/margin]]  
Soon after breakfast we went out to do some collecting. We went to an estate near the Layou river where they had recently cut cocoa. We worked with an aspirator this time & found that we could work much more rapidly. We had the largest and most bothersome audience we have ever had watching us. As they watched they picked the green mangoes off the trees and ate them with many a smack & gurgle. It was without doubt one of the largest social affaires they had been to in years. Two of the little half naked boys were rather cute, but, upon my showing the least sign of friendship, they became rather bothersome. After this I'll pay attention to Dick when he says it is best to leave them strictly alone.
Part of the road to the Layou river goes along the base of a cliff. Trailing down over this cliff are some sprays of orchids which must be five or 6 feet long. The orchids are of a yellow variety and are rather pretty. Along this part of the road we also saw some graceful gray-white gulls. They have long pointed tails and slender, curved

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wings, which make [[strikethrough]] s [[/strikethrough]] the [[strikethrough]] y [[/strikethrough]] [[insertion]] m [[/insertion]] a beautiful bird while in flight.
Along the river is the only tobacco plantation on the island. I am told that the planter "has made rather a good thing of it". The river itself is the most beautiful I have seen in the West Indies, and seems to have a great deal of water in it. Where the river enters the sea there is a sand bar.
We worked the cocoa until almost 11 and then started for home. It took us half an hour to make the trip, and it proved a little tiring to me. The road is very rough thru' any of the villages, and one finds pavement in the most unexpected places. They seem to put pavement on the roads without rime or reason.
When we got home we found that the hinges from Scott had arrived. This put us in a better frame of mind.
I slept some of the afternoon and Dick worked on stamps. I have a slight side pain again and I have convinced myself that it is best that I write Dr Schwaymann and ask his opinion. It is such a little nagging thing - but 10 months more of it wont be very pleasant. It worries me a little.