Stanleyville , Apr. 22,* 55 
Dear Bruce and Mrs. Bredin, 
Perhaps if I took to postcards I could keep you better posted. 
Letters I seem never to get at except those I must write officially 
to keep the ball rolling, and there have been plent y back and forth 
here to the American Consul, to Dr. Carmichael at the Smithsonian, and 
to Dr. van Straelen in Belgium. The last named had promised and arranged 
permits to wildlife areas from which tourists are excluded, permission 
to collect lava samples from the volcanoes of the eastern Congo, and 
tire courtesy of spending a night or two at the elephant training camp 
at Gangala-na-Bodio . It seems minor officials hereabouts dread the 
Governor General, and long after (some days) after we left Leopoldville 
where the Governor resides we learned we also need additional permits 
from him. Happily a letter and a wire fixed things up. Van Straelen 
is yet to be heard frcaa this second time around regarding the lava. 
We are most anxious for these samples because the lava^f central Afi’ica 
differ strikingly from those in other parts of the world and are 
unrepresented in our Museum* s collection of volcanic materials. The 
latest flow was 1953, and indeed there are a number of active volcanoes 
that yield beautiful pictures if caught at the right time. 
But to go back a few steps. I cannot realize that I have let you 
have no word frcm me since April 11 in Leopoldville. It was the hottest 
day yet 96 in the shade, or have I already told you this. (88 degrees 
in our room at the same time k p.m. The most surprising thing about 
this equatorial land is the climate and at least in the “larger** cities 
the absence of insects and vermin. Dr. Baker, who is perhaps thinner 
blooded than I am , frequently reaches for a blanl&t before dawn, yet 
the low at night can go down (?) to 72 degrees. It *3 the steady cool 
