27 
" Alpha Helix " at Sea September 19, 1972 
We finally sailed at 10:00 a.m. , an hour late, Roger Greenhough was 
by still helping us to the last moment as he shoved the gangway on board, 
helping our crew. When, earlier, he heard us complaining about no wrapping 
paper as I packed our first box for air dispatch back to NIH, he soon 
reappeared with a stack of wrapping paper for us, having rushed from Star 
Pier back to town and back to our ship. Donald Bowdin finally joined us, 
and his wife and his two babies stood by until our sailing to see him off. 
Captain Alan Phinney had a rough morning on discovering that the 
change of wharf from BP*s wharf to Star wharf had resulted in the misunder- 
standing that we had sailed and a return of all the last order of provisions 
to the warehouse. He had to round the supplies up again between 7:30 and 
9 a.m. ! ! 
I rushed to town to check about returning our Avis rental cars (we 
have 2 of them!) and to buy blankets, a pillow and some other last minute 
supplies at the Chinese trade stores. We then went out to the home where 
Mr. had taken me last night to see a great many fine Ambrym 
slit drums. There were six large ones here all carved in the last six 
years, but all completely traditional. The six were obviously of three 
styles and I surprised myself and our host, Joseph Tungon, a native of 
Magam village North Ambrym, by spotting this and assigning the pairs of 
drums correctly. The carvers are: 
Pala Noha village; N. Ambrym "poor" profile 
Baul Magam village; N. Ambr 3 nn strong profile, esp. nose 
Steven Magam village; N. Ambrym triple "heads" 
The fern tree ( liululu ) carvings ( puersing ) were also interesting and 
Don photographed all of them. The heavier, longer breadfruit carvings are 
called atingtino in the language of Magam village. With the close up 
photography of all the artifacts in town, Don has made a fine collection 
of data on styles of carving and decoration. Yesterday Don took photos 
of many of the Ambrym carvings in the French Cooperative Handicraft Outlet, 
some of which are fine. 
Late last night Captain Jack Barley again visited us and brought me 
the two bailers that go with our Futuna canoe which the captain has now 
brought on board from Jack Barley's home. Jack apologized for not yet 
delivering the canon ball from Laperouse's Astrolabe which he dove for and 
recovered at Vanikoro, since he has not found it. His boys were cleaning 
it up while at home on this vacation and he does not know where they put 
it! He still tells me that I may have it. He also refuses any payment 
for the Futuna canoe he had made for me. The outrigger is smashed and we 
shall have to see if Tikopians can repair it for me in the traditional 
fashion. Jack Barley has been of great help to us and cleared everything 
from customs promptly for us. I wish I had arrived two days earlier and 
met his two boys before they returned to school in New Zealand. He gave 
Captain Phinney further details on landing on Tikopia and Anuta. 
