28 
We are scheduled to arrive off the northwest landing on Merelava at 
6 a.m. and to take boats to shore-^starting at 8 a.m. It is hard for me to en- 
visage what we shall be able to do here on Merelava. I hope we can visit the 
school tomorrow and get some bleedings and patient study done by tomorrow 
night- — at least all of the school children. 
I am very irritated to learn of all the deficiencies in our supplies. 
We should have had the whole world library of the New Hebridean literature 
and all major works on Banks and Torres Islands. We do not! Actually, 
Nancy and Mint "pulled out" and did not give the careful attention to their 
tissue culture directions and supply. Ferber and Wiesenfeld are not lab men 
and have failed to supply many vital items for most procedures. They 
have not tried to practice the techniques in the laboratory which they suggest 
using; thus, we are often lacking one or two critical items. It will 
be a real challenge for us to work out just what we can and cannot do. I 
only hope that some successful laboratory work is accomplished for other- 
wise the use of the ship is hardly justified. 
We have packed all supplies for landing tomorrow. Our major problem 
may be that only Walter Schneider is experienced with the outboard engine 
and use of the small boats. Thus we do not have seamen who can handle 
difficult landings. We are starting with one of the difficult islands, 
Merelava, and proceeding to a more difficult landing, Merig. I do not 
understand how the Scripps Institute gets into Oceanographic work in regions 
such as this without an expert crew for handling small shore boats. 
Everyone but Don and I has turned in early and we are listening to 
cassette tapes in the study lounge and writing. Merelava and Merig are 
severe tests of our abilities and we are starting our work with these. They 
provide critical tests, and we must pass well. If only the sea and the weather 
stay with us and we can land and reembark easily and safely, all will then 
rest on my ability to get along with the people. 
Jean Guiart tells me of Mathias-like problems with Arman, his middle 
son, now of about 21 years of age. He is out of work and he sleeps most 
of the day and roams most of the night getting into trouble. Rene, the 
youngest, may eventually get going again at factory work. He has dropped 
out of his studies. Michelle is off at Noumea where Jean has also left 
his wife. I tell him of my problem with Mat and we are almost typical 
American fathers faced with the almost fadlike, typical pattern of their 
sons dropping out of affluent educated suburbia. 
Paul has arrived looking gaunt, haggard and aged and I am waiting for 
him to relax and get young once again. Obviously, from his very bearing 
and physical appearance, things have been hard for him in Paris and back 
in Bethesda. I have not spoken with him at all about this. 
Franqoise, Richard, Raymond and Paul have managed to separate off the 
serum from our first 40 bleedings. I did not help them but Instead have 
tried to organize the records and plans of our expedition at Merelava. 
