Chapter. Four Rennipecih an K wayak ia ESZ100¢ demanded the council’s attention. Olftcil Contacts beaween by kinians and Americans were frequent, bue were Largely mamcained between chicf Juda and the administration (Mason 195-4427). As individuals, the alab had bide opportunity to exercise any ot their traditional auchority, ‘The kin groups which they headed were not functional in the alien environment, and the alab had little co do with directing the daily activities of the comumunity. Wages meant an unprecedented depree of economic independence for most adults. As the alab did not control essential resources, others were not dependent upon them. With meals and housing provided at no cost, workers were free to gratify then own want. The traditional leaders had no customary rights to othets’ wages, and three or four of them who were too old for phystal labor became dependent upon their younger kinsmen. The islanders had never been more prosperous in terns of aterial well-being, and the satisfactions they derived from this aspece of their Kwajalein sojourn helped offsec memories of Rou erik. More importantly, the Bikinians werethrust into preates contact with outsiders than at any previous time. Many of the islanders in the labor camp were among the most acculcarated Marshallese; some had worked for the Japanese prior to che Amveri cans and preferred salaried employment co life in traditional con munities. Contact with the laborers served to both reinforce the negative image the Bikinians had of themselves and expose them to novel viewpoints. Compared co the laborers, the Bikinians were a group of unsophisticates and were reminded of then repu- tation as a backward people when one or two men from the camp were discouraged by their fellows from marrying Bikini women. At the same time, certain notions that were common among the laborers supported those of the Bikinians who were ceevaluating their relationship with the paramount chief. Many laborers took a dim view of the chiefs. As they earned their livelihood outside the traditional economy, they were no longer inclined to accept a status subservient co that of the chiefs, and they questioned the traditional social order which divided islanders into privileged and commoner classes. Contact with Americans also provided ideological grounds for reevaluating the traditional order. Some navy personnel ridi- culed the idea of hereditary chiefs, and officials encouraged the people to ocun their comune! ia denicebasbiouw. Palisted pul sonbel pave more tangible expression ca the weak whieh Aime cans are quick to espouse (if not practice mm the United Stare. ond were tclotively epalitarion then Dediavice avid artitube ste. ward the Matshallese. Wichin this social mificu, che Bikinis’ poronrouse chieb oben aged his own interests. ‘Vhe chief was quite advanced in years, and he was often represented by his heir apparent. The ewo elie ly men demanded that the Bikinians provide domestes fora louse hold chey mainceined on Kwajalein. Vhe chie@s hen paid frequent visits GO the Bikinians and reportedly belived as ihe were achiet with the power and prerogatives of former ties. “Phe Bikini resented the demands made upon them and learned from the be borers that few chiefs dared to act tn osach an autocratic tashacn, they Welle advised to forpet the chick ania e.tnt thre leat with ch. Arerioans, With the apparent encouragement of the laborers, che Oia ans boeehes developed their rationale for severing them dies with the chief. Some recalled that, unlike their own ancestor Larke lon, paramount chief Kabua of the fast century had not conquered 4 hind by fore of arms, and they chimed chat they liad never oo ally been subject to hint or any of his successors. Vhey also charped that they had been denied medical care in Japanese times ber aase the chief had failed in his obligation to assume the costs. They also found it convenient to recall chat the Japanese had claimed the atoll as the property of their Empecor and had terminated whatever rights the chief might have had. Selection of Kili The adivtnistration bepan the search for another tescete ment site by consulting the Bikinians’ paramount chief and thi chief who held Rongerik. ‘The choice of sites was narrowed to Wotho Atoll and Kili Island. ‘The paramount hie!) noc wantin to lose control over the people, urged that they be tesectled wink in his domain on Wotho. He was told to discuss the matter with the Bikinians. The Rongerik chief was excused fiom further par ticipation in the proceedings as he had interest in neither site. OV