} Chapter Four Raonperth and Kwagaleun LSZI100S © Throughout the period, the Bikinians were disadvantaged in theie dealings with the new administration because of factors be yond their own inexperience. Americans were sll antaniliar and imposing figures in the immediate postwar years. ti retro spect, it is obvious chat the islanders were uncertain as to how they could best manage their relations with the foreigners co achieve their own ends. Fear of incurring the displeasure of the Americans further accounted for their indecisiveness and vacillation at both Rongerik and Kwajalein. ‘Their own selection of Rongerik had proved disastrous, and in large part, che Bikintans’ reluctance to sclect another site for relocation was a consequence of their hope that the Americans would assume responsibility for their future welfare. Uncertain as to what means were available to them to thes early attempts corid themselves of the paramount chief, the Bi kinians curned co their own history to reinterpret past events in ways they hoped would gain the sympathy of the Americans. The islanders’ assertion that they had never been subjects of the paramount chicf was clearly a reworking of history to provide a rationale for new poals. The allegations chat the chief had tailed to meet his obligations in the pase and chat the Japanese had pre empted his rights to Bikini contradicted the denial of his dormer hegemony over them, but nonetheless, both were advanced as further evidence that he deserved no claim to their allegiance, land, or other resources. ; Similarly, che Bikinians drew upon inythological accounts of the past to influence Americans. The myth pertaining to Rong: erik's contamination by a malevolent spirit was not made known until after the Bikinians had encountered discomfort on the atoll and had become concerned about convincing the administration that the atoll was unsuitable for habitation and they should be returned to Bikini. Had the myth been an important part of their beliefs, ic is mose unlikely chat it would have pour unimen tioned prior to their actual resettlement on Rongerik. One event at Rongerik may have been an attempt by a desperate people to initiate some direce action to end the settlement and effect a return home. As noted, the origin of the fire which destroyed thirty percent of the trees on the main island was néver determined. With the possible exception of blazes caused by the ve) military iavasions of World War Ht, fires of comparable mapnitude are MOE known to have occurred else where in the Marshalls Vharsy? oseemts reasonable co suppest that the Ronpetth lire was either : kindled or, more likely, allowed to spread as a dhanmnren ean of attracting American AClCHtiOn and Concern. | Events of the period, however, did provide the Bikintans with the Opportunity Co acquire greater expericnce in dealing with Americans, The degree and kind of contact with Amen Te was different for various sepiments of the community. All ikaw atts observed Americans in the cont ext of official visits and pus cecai c lhe meetings held to explain admi nistration proposals. ‘Dirvet li | tercourse with officials, however, was limited to relatively few Bikinians. At Rongerik, the mem bers of the council were mest directly Involved im che hepotiations with officials. Ag both Ron hd erth and Kwajalein, four of the coun cilmen had more extensive contact with the adminiseration than did their fellows. One of the fot was Juda, who, because of his dual role as hereditat chiel and HiMpisCrate, Was most dire ctly involved with olficiale ea He alone was take n to Bikini te view the resules of the fis ba Clear test, he led the continge nt of Bikini men who were part ol | the survey parties which liter exa mined Bikini and evaluated pus tential sites for relocation, and he served as the principal tink i” Po the administration’s line of com munication with the communiy at Kwajalein. fuda’s conspicuous role not only pave him consul erable expe rience with Americans, but the cont inued reca sttiticon and support as head of the community by officials as well ist 1 fame as “King of Bikini” generated by the news media enhan t | his position and provided him with a greater prominence a i his fellows than he had previously enjo yed. | oe The other three men who played conspicuous toles charity the period were those who accomp anied Juda on the second Me COMMaissanee of Wikinid and the surv eys of potential saes for vel. cation, Two of the chree already occupied prominent positions inth e community and the reasons they were delegate d such inn portant responsibilities appear obvi ous. One was afab Bwho, a head of the second ranking Ujirik lineage, was subordinate only. to Juda in the traditio nal power structure of the communic The other, Lokwiar’s son, the scri be, was second in suthorieg lo Juda with in the framework of the council orga nization. Reason be ie