146 



I could not bring myself to touch it; and, after standing as if 



stricken, motioned to them to open it, Vv^hen Hunt and a sailor 



jumped as if electrified and peeled away that enveloping white 



shroud. 



God, yes ! It was true ! I saw first the unmistakable tubercles 

 on the large scales, then the bones of the head, the spiny fins. It 

 was true ! Malan would not suffer for his action, thank God for 

 that ! It was a Coelacanth all right. I knelt dov/n on the deck so as 

 to get a closer view, and as I caressed that fish I found tears splash- 

 ing on my hands and realised that I was weeping, and was quite 

 without shame. Fourteen of the best years of my life had gone in 

 this search and it was true ; it was really true. It had come at last. 



Suddenly my mind cleared. Time was passing. Blaauw had 

 told me that we must leave as soon as possible, for in his opinion 

 if the weather shut down we might not be able to get away at all, 

 and I could not but agree with him. I knew those seas. This was 

 something that must go round the world like a tidal wave, and 

 I must work quickly and efficiently. I got them to get the fish out 

 of the box, posed us all and took several photographs. Then I 

 spent about five minutes in rapid inspection of the fish ; which was 

 not easy, as my excitement was naturally intense, the sudden 

 release of fear and strain was almost more than the human system 

 could endure. It was certainly staggering to find no first dorsal 

 fin and no extra little tail such as all Coelacanths have had; but 

 it was a Coelacanth. It was probably different, probably a differ- 

 ent genus and species from my East London fish, but still a 

 Coelacanth. I must name it quickly — no more risks like the last 

 one. Malan, yes certainly first Malan, genus Malania sounded 

 good. Malania hunti seemed to be clearly indicated, since each 

 had played so prominent a part in the final act of this long drama. I 

 told them to pack it away. Hunt had been talking animatedly to 

 my airmen, and he now invited Blaauw and myself to his cabin. 

 He produced a bottle of whisky to toast the occasion, and Blaauw 

 who would probably have liked more, took the minimum for 

 politeness, while I put a drop in my water to be matey. I wanted 

 information and kept up such a rapid running fire of questions to 

 Hunt, asking him to answer quickly, that Blaauw, solid as he was, 

 just faded away. Hunt has a keen brain, and it was not long before 

 I had the main outlines of the story from his end. The Governor 



