Davao, Mindanao, Philippines

Left Parang around 7 in two cars, one owned and driven by Howard Curran who had spent the night in the junk. The country we went through was both more cultivated and more civilized than I had expected. It was not even especially interesting with the exception of the right hand side of the road in certain places where the tropical forest had not yet been cut. Stopped fairly often but for nothing very unusual. Felt extremely sleepy all morning, possibly because I did not take Marian’s dose of Bemax at breakfast.

Stopped for lunch at B. Turno’s Lumber Camp (Malasila) where Turno acted as host and there were extensive logging operations. Very good buildings and excellent lunch.

David found a variety of chestnut [Castanopsis philippinensis] which I photographed. After lunch I drove to Davao with Howard, Daan, and Fant. David and the rest stayed at the camp to do collecting.

Howard Curran took us to the club at Davao where we had drinks. Roy Doolan, Standard Oil man here asked Daan and I to stay at his house. Fant went to a Japanese hotel. We had dinner at the club alone with Doolan, very little to eat and no drinks anywhere in sight. Concluded it had something to do with Sunday. Talked and went to bed at 10.

Daan made a test on his canvas bag of my Sherwin Williams waterproofing compound. Very satisfactory.

Daan and I had a very comfortable room at Doolan’s and a real shower.

This town has a larger Japanese element than any other in the islands.

Howard asked me to drive early tomorrow to the International Harvester hemp plant. Sorry I could not go.