207 



find out, and within twelve hours the answer came back that there 

 was no vessel they could recommend or release. 



Meanwhile I had telephoned prominent people in the shipping 

 world at all the ports and others in Johannesburg and Pretoria, 

 asking them to try to locate some vessel in South Africa that 

 could be diverted to our project. A few doubtful prospects were 

 notified, and on the 27th July 1953 I set out by air in the forlorn 

 hope of finding at that late date some vessel that might still enable 

 us to do what we had planned. I wanted to hunt Coelacanths, but 

 had no intention that we should fill a Tiger Shark's belly by going 

 in an unsuitable vessel. I ransacked Port Elizabeth, but found 

 nothing suitable; then left by air and got to Durban that same 

 evening, where within an hour of arrival I was inspecting vessels. 

 One or two were possible, but were ruled out either by cost or by 

 the time needed for essential repairs. On the 29th July 1953 I went 

 to Cape Town and was whisked oflF at once on arrival to a confer- 

 ence. It was bitterly cold at that time, but I could visualise East 

 Africa and the Comores. One vessel was hopeful but very costly, 

 and when I telegraphed to explain the situation and to ask the 

 South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research if 

 they could manage another thousand pounds, the answer came 

 back: 'Yes, but we strongly recommend postponement until 

 next year.' I could not ignore that, and with all the other difficul- 

 ties not yet solved it spelled 'Finis', there was too little time. 



Nielsen's ship arrived early in the morning and I went to meet 

 him. We had only a few brief moments, in which I gave him the 

 main outlines of the story and told him my wife would meet him 

 at Port Elizabeth. 



I had asked to see Dr. Malan — once again I was in that office 

 where I had sat in such discomfort before. I told his Secretary 

 that my need was past, and if the Dokter was very busy I should 

 go ; but he said no, he knew he would like to see me. When I went 

 in Dr. Malan rose at my entrance and smiled as he held my hand. 

 He asked what I wanted, but I said I would not burden him with 

 my troubles. I wished just to greet him again, though I told him 

 briefly that my Coelacanth hunt was oflF. 



I slept most of the time in the plane on the way back to my wife 

 and Nielsen at Port Elizabeth, from where we took him to 

 Grahamstown, to the laboratory, and of course first to the 



