This effort was 
of Taravao, an appendage or off-shoot of Tahiti proper* 
attended, I believe, bv the roughest sea-s yet experienced. Wind and waves 
became so bad that the Captain had to call off the venture. He had difficulty 
in coming about and heading back to our harbor anchorage. Thi^” maneuver” 
as he called it ended our exploratory work in the Society Islands. 
Earlier we had also been hospitably entertained by Dr. and Mrs. H. N. 
March and daughter Jane. Dr. March was carrying forward the good works of 
the China Medical Board which transferred its activities to these islands^ after 
this binianitarian health organization had been made unwelcome in Communist 
China, ^ere the Foundation is engaged in eradicating from these happy islands 
that repulsive scourge, elephantiasis. Their campaign to date has been 
remarkably successful^ombating this mosquito-borne disease. One island after 
the other is being freed of it. By letter Egbert Walker^ with our Depart- 
ment of Botany at the time had introduced us to the Marches. He had been 
corresponding with Jane regarding the collection and identification of Society 
Island plants. 
Not to be forgotten is the personally conducted tour on which Captain 
Temarii took us to the leading points of interest in and about Papeete, 
including King Pomare*s Tomb, and Point Venus where stands the monument com- 
memorating the landing of Cookes Transit of Venus Expediti-on in 17691 And 
the delicious home cooked meal of Polynesian dishes with which he and Mrs. 
Temarii honored us afterwards: aperitifs, soup, fish, chicken, salad, and a 
bountious dish of mixed fresh fruit and melons sprinkled generously mth shrec^d 
coconut, several wines, and after dinner coffee. 
Among the many who assisted our several endeavours in one way or another 
are also to be numbered: Mr. Francis Sanford, teacher of manual arts in the 
Papeete High School, Formerly stationed on Bora Bora, he transferred here to 
