unknown to tne members of the crew, it was going to get much worse,
for, on tue morning of -farcn 1,

1954,

the sun rose twice.

At 11° U9' north latitude and 166° 54°

1

east longitude, lies an

atoll known at one time ody the name of the great Russian composer
“Rimski-korsakoff," known to the Japanese as 'Rongorappu To'', but best
known to its inhapitants as

simply--Rongelap.

Rongelalappelap,

Ronjlap,

Pomiclam is typical of many atolls.

Ronge lappelap, or,

Composed of 61

scattered islands along its necklace-like rim, which total only 647
square miies,

the yreat bowl of Rongelap Lagoon itsel£ covers more than

387 square wiles.
While the Lucky Dragon fishermen still dozed halfway between sleep
and avareness, tne 64 men, women and children of Rongelap--like most
island peonle--arese early to start tne day. The women vould nave kindled
fires to cook vandanus or arroywroot for the day's meals and to recook
risa, if any,

left over from the night before, while children would still

ve drovsing and the men would be starting to repair fishing pear or canoes
for a fishing trip or planning where they would begin collecting and
hugking dried coconuts to make copra for the field trip vessel's next call.
One particular person on this island on this morning had reason to be
contemplative. He was Jolin Anjain, tie magistrate.
nave crossed his consciousness that morning:

any thoughts must

the needs of his wife--

especially that of his new son, Lekoj who was one year old--the island
work to be done, council meetings,
come the way of tne magistrate.

land and personal disputes vhich often

We was probably wondering when the 18

people on Ailinginae, some 20 miles to the soutnwest, would be returning

to kongelap from their fishing and copra-making party.
66

Wr

9010332

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