NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 245 



as a refreshment coconut-water drunk from the nut itself. We 

 were shown fine examples of bark-cloth, or "siapu," which is put 

 to so many uses on these islands. And there was a kava-bowl, 

 deftly carved from a single block of wood, in which the national 

 beverage is prepared. On the edge of the circle sat an old man 

 polishing a war-club with a piece of broken glass, doubtless for 

 sale as a souvenir to some tourist passing through on the next 

 steamer. So passed our first evening in Samoa, smiling and 

 chatting with these happy, hearty people, or following the ad- 

 ventures of a movie star on the screen at the station theatre. 



The following day was spent on board, for the most part. There 

 were letters to read, reports to prepare, provisions to buy, and calls 

 to make on the officers of the station. Commander Baughman 

 was an old friend of Captain Ault. They had met in Washington 

 when the Navy Department was preparing its first pilot-chart 

 for the upper air. So during our short stay in Pago Pago, Captain 

 Ault lived with the Baughmans. 



The Naval Dispensary was kind enough to allow us the use of 

 their equipment for replenishing our low stock of distilled water, 

 which was used in chemical work aboard. The privileges of the 

 Commissary were offered, and from their cold storage we with- 

 drew rich cream, and meats from Australia, vegetables and fruits 

 from California — welcome fare indeed for a ship which must subsist 

 chiefly on canned goods. 



During the remaining two days of our stay gasoline and other 

 stores were taken aboard, while the staff prepared the mail for 

 forwarding to headquarters, or collected biological specimens on 

 the reefs. We were later to become better acquainted with the 

 infinite variety and gorgeous coloration of the life under the waters 

 of this magnificent harbor. 



The evenings were as full as the days. Naval oflScers arranged 

 bridge-parties or tennis-matches. Swimming was superb in the 

 balmy waters of the bay. To demonstrate that our life in the 

 tropics had not melted away all ambition, Soule and Diefenderfer, 

 the director of education for American Samoa, swam the whole 

 length of the harbor, a distance of about three miles. But night 

 was generally the occasion for strolls or for attending native dances 



