- “ae” PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED AOE G1 Sha Regen: Dae! to Banta PROT yo FFi. Lae Soothers A Ben: Bey A oy ty September 23. 1°58 Dr. Allyn H. Seymour Division of Biology and Medicine Uu. &. Atomic Pnergy Commission Waehington 25, D. C. BEST COPY AVAILABLE Deér Al: Following a televhone conversation with you this merning, Dr. Donaldson nas asked me to send you information concerning the“dlet of the Rongelanese. Enclosed are copies of notes which hive bearing on the diet of the Kongelspese. Information on the medicinsl uses of some vclants has also heen ineluded. [It must be remembered that many factors affecting reliability are involved tn obtsining such information. Therefore, it is to be exnected thet there will be diascrepanciss and even contradictions between information obtained at different times or even at the same time from different informants. You will remembar that this and other problems in evaluating the dict of tne Fonvelapese were discussed at «& moeting which you attended on lo July at the Diviston of Blolory and Medicine. In an attempt to obtain sone help with this matter, conversations were held with Mr. William Whita, Asst. DISTAD. M.I., on 5 Sentember. He was not abdle to give us any specific information concerning the diet but expressed the oninion that the diet of the Ranmgelarese 1s not commirable to that of other reople in the Marshalls. largely bectuse of the imvorted foods, orimertly rice und "C-ration’. which they have been receiving. Mr. White informed us that the Trust territory is assigning Mr. Neal Morriss-s Resident Azriculturallsat at Pongelen etarting in October or November. Mr. Morrigs will be at Pongelen during the next survey in March and his hel~ in this and other matters should be valuable, since he will nave had the time tc estsblish the necessary rapnort witn the Rongelapese. While at Fongelar further checking on the source of locally grown foods leaves no doubt that @ considerable oro- oortion of the food eaten eat Fongelav Islend is collected from Fnisetok Island. This is now at the peak season. sarticularly true of Pandanus which is Probably on the order of cne-third of the Pandanis consumed at Rongelep Island hes been harvested at Fniasetok. PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOV-~" POS ARCHIVES