150 



policy or politeness. Although Blaauw shot several short warnings 

 about time across to me in Afrikaans, he had no need to speak, I 

 was as anxious as he to go. The younger members of the crew 

 were enchanted by the place, and would have rejoiced at any, 

 even enforced, stay; but it would have been criminal folly to 

 delay. I had got from these friendly people as much information 

 as could be contrived in less than a stay of days, so as soon as 

 politeness permitted I rose and said we must unfortunately tear 

 ourselves away, and, speaking very slowly, expressed my gratitude 

 to His Excellency for his very kind assistance and co-operation in 

 this matter, which I appreciated very greatly, as I most sincerely 

 did. I appreciated only too well that he was in some ways in a 

 difficult situation, and he had handled it most gracefully. Be- 

 cause of that I went on to say that I would never have come for 

 this fish had I not felt it was mine, because it had been found as a 

 result of my search. Even though I was so interested in Coela- 

 canths, I would not have lifted a finger to fetch one that had come 

 as a result of efforts of someone else. But this one, I told the 

 Governor with a smile, and asked the official to translate care- 

 fully, if this one had been found on the steps of your Residency, 

 sir, I would have come for it, for it is mine. However, because 

 you have all been so kind I have asked Captain Hunt to act as my 

 agent here, and he is authorised to offer a further ;£ioo as a 

 reward for another fish, and the very next one he obtains that 

 way in French waters will be given to you as the representative of 

 your nation. It was clear that this was greatly appreciated by them 

 all. 



We parted with cordial adieux from the Governor and his 

 lady, with hopes of return at no distant date. I got all their names 

 and titles and occupations. There was still one more thing to do, 

 and I sent off brief cables to my wife, to Dr. Malan, and to the 

 President of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, 

 to say that it was a true Coelacanth. 



Then we hurried off to the air-strip. The box? Yes, there it 

 was, safe in the lorry in the shade, and soon it was in the Dakota, 

 where I opened the lid and looked inside as well, just to be sure. 

 We had spent barely three hours on Pamanzi, and yet it seemed 

 almost an age. It had been one of the most critical periods of my 

 life; but this whole affair had been just one crisis after another. 



