Evening star., 1942-10-22
gathered us into their arms like ba-
bieS and set of with us at q swift

PdCC.
We went toward the leeward side
OF the island, passing through beauti-
full groves of coconut trees and other
tropical growth. I still was able to
take some interest in what saw as
we went along, and I noted numer-
Gus taro beds.
The natives carried us a mile or
more until we arrived at the COM
missioners residence on the leeward
side. The house stood on the high
est point on the island, about 40 feet
above sea level. I learned that we
were on one of the tiny atolls that
dot the South Seas. The particular
group to which this one belonged is
one of the most isolated in all the
South Pacific. There is more than
one island in the group, but the
others are deserted, and are visited
only for the gathering of coconuts
for the copra trade. Yesterday, in
choosing one of the two visible
islands as our objective, we had the
fortune to pick the only inhabited
one within many hundreds of miles.
Cover 1000 Miles.
We learned, when we were able to
check our reckonings later, that we
had completely circled the entire
small group of islets before sighting
our first land on the 34th day. In
all, We covered approximately 1000
miles in the raft, but actually, from
the point at which we landed our
plane to this island the distance was
about 750 miles.
We received warm welcome from
the commissioners wife. She put us
to bed at once in large room at one
end of the beautiful wide tropical
style building, and set about prepar-
ing us our first meal since we left
the ship.
This was the kind of house thev
try to duplicate in the South Seas
movies. 1t was built of native hard
woods, so hard, the commissioner
told us when we were able to talk
more, that the termites wouldn't
attempt to bite into it, taking anv
other kind of wood in preference
The framework was constructed of
upright poles, all uniform in size.
4 to inches in diameter. The
poles were smooth and round and
didn't seem to taper, so evidently
this wood comes from a straight,
high tree. No nails were used in
the construction; everything was
tied together with some kind of
cord that resembled rattan. The
sides and ceilings were made of
beautiful hand-woven coconut pan
els. The roof over this intricate mat
work consisted of layers of coconut
leaves piled 6 or 8 inches deep,
like the roof Of the shack we had
found. 1t was proved to us later that
this roof was wind and rainproof.
The roof extended out and down
from the sides of the housesto a
distance Of perhaps 10 feet, giving
about 7 feet clearance between the
ground and the edges OF the caves.
There were windows in the places
where one would expect windows
to be, but these had no panels,
screens or glass. just frames through
which the trade winds waited the
delightful fragrance of tropical
flowers.
Welcome Coffee.
There were lots of mosquitoes, of
course, but over our three beds there
was a huge net that kept out the
buzzing pests. Each evening serv-
ants would come in and lower the
nets for us, then with fanlike
brushes would drive out all the mos
quitoes that had collected in the
room.
The meals were prepared in two
huts in the yard, one for cooking
and the other for baking. Our gra-
cious hostess had her kitchens going
like beehives a few minutes after
our arrival.
The commissioners wife had lust
enough coffee left in her supply to
make us one pot. which she gave
us Immediately. When I tasted my
first sip of coffee I was able to
believe, at last, that it was all true
and not one of those Nightmares I
used to have when I dozed in the
raft. We were really safe-it seemed
impossible to believe, but that well
come cup of coffee was the con-
vincer.
Lying there in civilized beds, we
realized for the first time what an
ordeal we had come through, as
evidenced by the physical condi-
tions and reactions which now
pressed themselves upon our con-
sciousness. Our skinned backs and
cooked hips kept us in constant
torment for many days. and we
found ourselves still unable to sleep
at first.