64 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



have the boat, as it must have been nearly that deep under us. We got 

 out on the wall for a few moments, for this was the end of our journey 

 in this craft, although one can go on for miles under the island, I 

 was told. 



Returning to the surface was more of an ordeal than going down, 

 because it was my turn to stand on the edge of the bucket and lay hold 

 of the cable. After we had taken our places, one of the guides blew a 

 whistle, the signal to haul away, but nothing happened. We waited a 

 while a little uneasily, and he blew again. This happened still another 

 time before the cable finally tautened and we were on our way up. 

 My rubber-soled shoes were wet and I thought perhaps too slippery 

 for me to be standing on the thin, curved rim of a metal bucket, but 

 slowly and inexorably we were being lifted up higher and higher. I 

 rather hated to look up at the tiny spot of light that marked the hole 

 through which we had to disappear to regain our freedom. I do not 

 care to describe my feelings. Although in reverse, they were very 

 much like the feeling you might get standing out on the edge of a 

 frail scaffolding at the top of the highest skyscraper you could imagine. 

 It was a relief to let go of that trembling cable and step off that slick 

 bucket edge, so much so, in fact, that I forgot the object of my visit 

 to the nether regions and had to be reminded of it. Except for the 

 bait placed in it that morning, the roach trap was empty ! 



My assistant naturalist for the trip was G. Robert Lunz, of the 

 Charleston Museum, while our ever-willing helpers in all phases of our 

 work were the whole crew of the Joseph Conrad, from Captain 

 Troonin down to the mess boy. A most pleasant shipmate, valued 

 friend and counsellor throughout was DuBose Heyward, of " Porgy 

 and Bess." Above all, however, my personal thanks and appreciation 

 and those of the Smithsonian Institution go to Mr. Hartford, who 

 made possible this scientifically most profitable expedition that has 

 enriched the natural history collections of the United States National 

 Museum many fold. 



