Chapter Four c G g | 0 0 ¢ been a commercially operated copra plantation i fapanese said German times and had passed to the United States as pubbe de main. From the point of view emerging among the Bik inians, the atolls of Wotho, Ujac, and Lae which had been cousidered for re location were deemed undesirable not only because of chew small size and chat they were already inhabited, but they lad the addi tional disadvantage of being pare of their paramount chiefs do main. Tt tne equiped. “Phe moilitary COMMUTES Cou stod ob ia fea thousand Amerian males and was complere with sereets. elew ty lights, water distilled from the sta, telephones, bachios, movie atin acters, anda post exchanpe, On the tshind’s ocean side was a campood Marstallese haben ers, tostly mites, who were recr uited frome adbaover che are hayes | po. Nexe to the camp, a cont villa ge of three parallel tows of ten Closely Sp dete ed Culi vas roofed dwells lial been CONSE be od for the Bikianens prior to their arriv al, The thirty ants dad oo Kwajalein Sojourn Events of carly 1948 strengthened che position ot those whe desired that the United States become a surrogate for the para mount chief. “Three days after Mason’s arrival at Rongerth, anol ficer of the administration arrived and was informed of the situa tion, Kestipenth wed KRwajalon A message sent to the governor urged immediate relic measures. Swift action was taken; the following diay food and a medical officer were flown to Rongerik. The doctor examined the Bikinians; he pronounced their condition to be chac of ao sear ving people. On February 7 the governor arrived anal outhned 7 plan to evacuate the islanders to a Comporary camp on Kwajalein until another relocation site could be found. He proposed to sub ‘sidize the community and provide employment for chose who cesired ic while on Kwajalein. The Bikinians responded with cnthu- siasm (Mason 1954:344-345), and they reaffirmed their approval of the governor's scheme when they were visited later in the month by che High Comunissioner, an admiral (Richard) 1957; 528). On March 14, the Bikinians loaded their possessions and delapidated canoes on board a navy vessel and arrived at Kwaj.lein the following day. The Rongerik resettlement had fasted two years and one week. | Kwajalein cepresented a totally alien environment for most Bikinians. They were given refuge on Kwajalein Island, the lrg est in che atoll, which had been denuded of almose all vepetation by the American invasion force of 1944. The island had a large concrete air strip, quonset huts, a variety of wooden structures, offices, churches, and tents. The lagoon side of the island was equipped with a docking area for vessels and was clittered with rupatod metal walls and wooden floors, and each was equipped with an clectin liphe. The Qeer ters were cramped: cach anit wa. ctbout fen feet square. he drranpem edt of che villaye distupec a fotmmer resi dential Broups. ta some inscimnees, mem bers ofa houschold occupied adjacent quarters , and in other cases, they were domed to Se Pale, The Bikinians received then Meal s ta messhall with the laborers. The fare was plain by American standards bat ap | peared extr avagant to the Bikinians after cheir Ronp erth ordeal Mens consisted of rice, canned fish, bread, beet and vepetable stew, canned fruits, milk, sugar, coffee, and tea. Outside the COMMON tess, the Bikiniaas rema ined W COMMUNITY separate un to themselves. Facilities were provided for theit x howl, mmecUngs, and Church services. Phe administration reported: Coulbda il ve that definite psychologica l scars were lefe on the people and the fist month on Kwajalein was spent chiefly in checking and rescore their health, rehabilitating their clot hing and Possessions, onmfentm y . them to unaccustomed saeround ings, and above alll, establishing . sense of secucity and self respect (Richard 1957:524). As soon as they were physical ly able, adults were employ ed as manual laborers and given task s celaced to the general maine nance of the base. With their carmiags , they bouphe ¢ lothing: avid sampled widely fro m che variety of poods available at the post er change. Their health improved rapidly, morale soared, and they were reportedly “.. . profoundly impres sed with the cultural a. complishment s ofthe United States movies, cokes candy, ice cream’ (tbid.). In cont rast to the period at Ronp erik, HO Setious problens, a9