Chapter Four Ronjperik anal KRwapehon a sinall sum for their labor. tt was hoped that this ananpement would give the people a cash reserve and permit direct: supervision of their work. With the construction of concrete cisterns, the vil lage was considered virtually finished, and all Americans departed thon of of replacing the canvas coverings of the tent frames with pandanus ~ Food provided by the Americans was sufficient doa several weeks. The community's small score was well stocked. AbD tools and surplus materials left from the construction work were piven to the Bikinians. They also received a radio receiver and a pase mal | ue atoll, ‘This MIspIcton was remfor which it is hoped the natives will admire and perhaps use. The natives are delighted, enthusiastic about the atomic bomb, which already has brought them prosperity and a new promising future (Honolula Star Bulletin, April 1, 1946, quoted trom Mason 1954:283). the IMIpresston that the people were enpape d tbh hetle Lon a | The resetthement’s initial weeks were something of a honey live activity, moon period. In addition to the American supplied food, the (i Other evidence Indicates, howeve r, that the Ish “ms were attempting to extend the planting of coconut and : Ne anus to Increase Rongerik’s resource base (Kiste 1968:56) -_ Vhe kinians collected a rich harvest of coconuts and pandanus from trees which had long been unexploited except by small parties of Rongelabese which had occasionally visited the atoll. As soon as administration also feared chat Ineffect ive leaderstn was the source of some of the islanders’ croubles As Jud ‘ cession to the chieftainship had been recent and cont . Ld _ suffered under the handicap of his own INeEX pericnee “and | " probably didi not have the support of the faction whi lh ch dha a a I the people began co subsist on focal foods, it became apparent that Rongerik’s resources had been greatly overestimated, and were, in fact, inadequate. The coconuts were smaller than those to which the people were accustomed, and it was discovered that both the palms and pandanus trees were less productive than chose were edible at Biking ivate in Rongerik’s waters. Consump- a oa I visite, Rongenth whe reported a lack of acuity and enthitets ' wh " iy Openinon Crossroads, Ron pertk was a site show f "A ' cans tivolved inthe main even t at Bikint. Sea pl ines wl hed Cedi back and forth between Kwajalein an Wiki, tre ' i } i handed at Ronperik for the bene fit of some official satty / newsmen. “The Bikinians Bre w accustomed to their visiters . | took full advantage of their appearances to exchange I ind ica for Cigarettes, money, and oche r items. Such ue casions lite ” ted the islanders’ normal rout ine, and visitors went aw Wh The Seabees built a model village on Rongerik that anyone would be er marine fauna in the lagoon proved to be poor in comparison to” Bikini, and the people learned that certain species of fish which | Hin ho upow the Bovermment and were Hot makiny in 4 Ne adjust to the proud to live in, complete down to Chick Salers of the latest model, not available for copra. The quantity and quality of fish and oth- haath sed HHatety over Ronperik 's resources and Inade the fina a their Hetty requests to be redianed home. Che client s ithe Sispected, however, that they were Lepesant tir cdepo enael ba line generator so they could keep abreast of developments at Bi kim. A press release issued by naval auchouties reported that the relocation was an unqualified success, of Bikini. All coconuts were required for subsistence; surplus was fish caused stomach sorders Other dithculties were cheoun tored Adter exlautstinp ply carried frou Bikini, the islanders found that the fiber 4 can the husks of Ronperik's Coconu ts was of stich poor quale Whe it could bot be processed into durable senuit. As a result. ; i" dwellings rennained unthatche d and GAHOG Tepains were not . ‘ale fess than two months after then artivel, the Wikintans . pres by the end of the month. The Bikinians were left with the cash thatch. these puralyses al the limbs. ! 1 . withee weamenen i quite com mon in the Pacilic; a species of fish eaten There iene none lace c inay cause illness, sometimes tatal, in anot h offish, bee ee et be leve 292.294), . ' at the pos oning originates ia the dies ver Us source, its chemical nacure is nknown (Wiens 1962 : 79