33 
Lekwel village, Merelava September 21, 1972 
We are sleeping at Lekwel again, after a very hard day’s work. 
Ten of the Lekwel boys are sleeping at the school with me, having brought 
here their mats and their blankets, sheets or pillows — few have more than 
two of these items. They like to sleep in pairs and joke about genital 
play together very casually and unembarrassedly . Tonight a group of four 
older boys aged 14 to 17 asked to have me examine them now rather than in 
the daytime when they would be embarrassed by girls seeing them examined. 
To be examined even under the distant eyes of girls and women is very em- 
barrassing to them. 
Jean is sleeping alone in a deserted house nearby and Paul, Ray and 
Frangoise have fine quarters with Father Thomas Butu, the Anglican priest 
who has been here for two years already. I have just joined them all 
in Father Thomas’s home where we were offered pumpkin cooked in coconut 
milk, a very refreshing dish. 
The weather is often windy and overcast with intermittent showers 
and drizzle and the landings are always difficult on Merelava. We will 
have to excercise more caution than in the past, for ship to shore circuits 
are truly hazardous! 
There was late night dancing to guitar music at both St. John and St. 
Barnabas. This occurs regularly on both Wednesdays and Fridays at St. Barnabas. 
There is only Friday dancing at St. Steven and St, Paul’s and none at St. John’s 
or St. Luke’s. Why St. Barnabas dances more often I do not know, but the 
boys imply they simply like to dance there more. 
There are many Merelava people away. I get the following list of students 
at Torvil Village School, Lolowai: 
Viktor Walang Sir sir 
(F. Merdon) 
M 
17 
Class 
7 
St. 
Barnabas 
Janet Elizabeth 
(F. Manas i) 
F 
15 
Class 
7 
St. 
Steven 
Stella Anitta 
(F. Fubin) 
F 
13 
Class 
7 
St. 
Steven 
Leo Swedon 
(F. Manes i) 
M 
16 
Class 
St. 
Steven 
Henry Stakis 
(F. Christen) 
M 
16 
Class 
St. 
Steven 
John Esera 
(F. Edwin) 
M 
16 
Class 
7 
St . 
Paul 
Hi Rolir 
M 
16 
Class 
7 
St. 
Paul 
John Young 
M 
18 
Class 
7 
St. 
Paul 
Thomas Erikson 
M 
17 
Class 
7 
St. 
Paul 
Michael Sur 
(F. Bauwmin) 
M 
17 
Class 
St . 
Paul 
Ataben Calintula 
M 
15 
Class 
7 
St. 
John 
There are no Merelava students at Port Paterson. At lolowai there 
is a Merelava carpenter; 
Morris Lulu (F. Edwin) St. Paul 
This very partial list of people off the island may be 'of help to us 
in tracking down absentees from Merelava, who are many. 
