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a real hunt took place. I have often wondered what happened to 

 that whisky, and must ask Dr. Malan some time. Their young 

 adopted daughter Marietjie was intrigued by all the fuss and 

 followed me around. She called me 'Oom Vis' (Uncle Fish). 



The box containing the Coelacanth was put under a tree on the 

 lawn. I had it opened and showed the fish to Dr. and Mrs. Malan, 

 and to my wife as well, for she had not seen it before (Plate 6). Dr. 

 Malan looked for some moments, especially at the head, then 

 turned to me, and with a twinkle in his eye said, 'My, it is ugly. Do 

 you mean to say we once looked like that?' I replied, *H'm! I have 

 seen people that are uglier.' Then I gave him a scale from the 

 animal, which he handed to his wife with instructions that it was 

 to be put in the family archives. The press photographers had a 

 good time with us all, and I noticed that Mrs. Malan was always 

 on the watch to see that they did not worry 'The Doctor'. 



Word of our arrival soon got round, and crowds of curious sight- 

 seers were constantly passing. Despite the guard under the tree, 

 I kept a wary eye on the coffin myself, and soon noticed a secre- 

 tive-looking man moving about the drive and along the fence. 

 I watched him for some time, and eventually told Colonel du 

 Toit I couldn't help feeling suspicious of that chap. He was 

 greatly amused and said there was no need to worry, he was the 

 Prime Minister's special guard ! After lunch Mrs. Malan, aware 

 of my exhaustion, insisted on our resting awhile in their own 

 room for comfort and quiet. But sleep would not come and I 

 wondered whether I should not after all have had some of that 

 whisky. 



A request came to Dr. Malan that the Coelacanth should be 

 put out on exhibition in a public place for everyone to see. He 

 passed this on to me and I considered the matter. I had brought 

 this fish so far for the special purpose of showing it to Dr. Malan. 

 He had already selected those he considered would have excep- 

 tional interest in seeing it. I had refused to show it to the crowds in 

 Durban, and felt it would not be fitting to do more now. From the 

 scientific point of view, it seemed wiser to refuse at that special 

 time. Any public exhibition needs careful planning, and with 

 little time for that would then have involved a degree of risk I 

 was not prepared to undertake, and I did not want the animal 

 exposed more than was necessary. I told Dr. Malan I would 



