38 
of an "elevated atoll" & it has a basin shape all of its own! 
On the way back we tried the bottom sampler in 10 & 16 fathoms of 
water. Tried it 3 times - without fore-weight & [[underline]] with it 
[[/underline]] - letting out 30 fathoms of rope to give a low angle 
[[left margin, insertion]] believe me, our hands are sore!- its plenty 
heavy! [[/margin]] 
[[left margin, vertical line]] [[underline]] No sample [[/underline]]! The 
captain claims the bottom is rock. Maybe he is right. Certainly we got 
hung up once (& feared for the safety of the samples) & scraped all the 
paint off the base of the machine! [[/left margin, vertical line]] 
The Captain caught another swell fish as we geologized - so we are 
[[underline]] Now [[/underline]] to have a big feed offish & chitons & 
[[underline]] etc [[/underline]]! I haven't opened any tins for [[underline]] 
days [[/underline]]! (But I work on the honey a bit!) 
Night clear & a fair wind for Mothe & Oneato - wish me luck! 
Harry 
[[end page]] 
[[start page]] 
39 
P.S. (as always!) 
My belt today ripped- "For the glass-case!", says Willy! 
And, oh yes!, first hospital service today. The captain stepped on his 
knife & took the bottom of his little toe off - a clean cut. - My legs were a 
mess of scratches tonight. Thats what I get for climbing in shorts & 
tennis shoes! - I've bathed them in hot iodine water. - Now for another 
English crossword puzzle! 
Later - I've been walking up & down our 50 steps of beach & watching 
the tide go out. A [[underline]] full [[/underline]] moon tonight, Ed & Ruth! 
My God, I wish I could bring Jane out to Lau! I'm tired so I herewith pass 
out of the picture - with my face just a hand-span from the roof of the 
leaf shelter. 
Adios - 
H. 
HARRY LADD - DIARY AND FIELD NOTES, 1934 - VOL. 2 
Transcribed and Reviewed by Digital Volunteers 
Extracted Oct-11-2015 06:35:03 
Smithsonian Institution Transcription Center, Smithsonian Institution Archives 
