103 
but sometimes get hit by a high wave which they did not anticipate in the 
process. In the Caroline Islands people usually went right into the sea. 
Here they do not, but use the shores of the steep sandy beaches. They 
wipe themselves not with stone or sea water or sand, but with coconut 
husks, usually using a narrow crescent from copra husking. The same kind of 
coconut fiber is passed around for us to wipe our hands after meals in 
our host?s home. Thus, the disposable "two-wipe" anal cleansers, which 
fit well the interbuttock crease are a fine and readily available toilet 
item on every shore, and serve as well for napkins. 
The large tikatika playing field, called the Te Moraea, is often 
filled with small groups of children throwing the tikatika. It is their 
most serious organized sport and it is often played casually by groups 
of two or more boys. I have not seen a girl throw the tikatika. 
We have three hosts tonight, as last night, and if we do not start 
our evening meal circuits soon, it will drag on to very late Indeed. 
Another three feasts in three separate homes this evening and we 
are all exhausted from the eating. I recorded dancing and singing by nine 
girls and three boys on the beach tonight. It was windy and the batteries 
were low, but the dancing was fully traditional and I hope we have a 
good tape. 
As a matter of record: many cats on Anuta, some ailing and dying 
recently^ no dogs and no pigs. The 1970 BSIP census shows 157 people on 
Anuta in 29 households (69 males and 88 females). For Tikopia the figure 
is 1039 total population (481 males, 558 females). 
Rick finds the luxury of the Alpha Helix offshore very enticing and 
spends all the time on it that he can. He is an able and powerful 
swimmer and he and Walter have done most of the swimming for equipment 
through the surf to shore, when the seas were too rough for launching a 
canoe. He has been here on Anuta eight months, and one cannot blame him 
for enjoying the luxury of the ship, its meals, hot showers, and insect- 
free air-conditioned study, with a typewriter and cold drinks — or hot 
coffee at hand. Yet, he lives well on Anuta, using one half of the 
Chief's house near the school house, which is Basil's home. Living with 
Basil and his family, he has learned much, and Basil has been his chief 
informant and teacher of languages, and much of his other work. I ad- 
mire Rick for his abilities, his accomplishments and his willingness to 
help us in our work. 
Anuta Island October 26, 1972 
Pu Koroatu has brought fifty guests to the feast, which we held tonight 
in gratitude for the seven days of feasting we have been given on his 
island. That we managed to feed all the people and ourselves well, was 'a 
great surprise to us. Two huge pots of rice and two pots of macaroni 
provided the staple, and pressed beef, tuna and salmon in cans, beans 
carrots, peas and corn, corned beef and other tinned meats, provided 
dozens of plates from which our guests helped themselves. Twelve large 
