CHEMLCOAL COMPOSITION Ob from the immature nut is preferred for drinking, and only rarely is the germinated aut mage Capa the dete) spoomtogee . staple eaten alune or mixed with otier fueis. The coconut sap is collected from the cut ends of inflorescences of cocamt trees aMGOP fas po, eM he \ al Vhe fresh sap is partake of hod a groups, and the fermented sap, “iekre or “yugaroo,” is consumed by adults, Breadtruit (May is eaten either baked ar * 1 . ea , anf . ' : ea ee . rererred to as “eneese.” “To wake “cheese.” the skinais removed and the pulp is placed iu salt water for three divs, then wrapped in breadfruit leaves ard buried in the -and for at dedst ane week ctote it is eaten. The IKungelapese clain: that this “cheese” will keep two years or more in the sand. Pandanns t Bopo is eaten fresh, boiled. or baked. “Jenkun,” a preparation said to keep for more than nve vears, is prepared by baking or boiling the Pandanus kevs and scrapmg out the pulp. “Phe pulp is dried. usually on sheet metal over coals unul it reaches the consisteney of tudge. The dried . : rodbandowrare af fa Spo tee a Vandants or coconut leaves. Slices are cut ali as needed, Tacea op arrcewroot (Mokmok) tubers are washed with sea water, crushed and jassed through a sieve into a pan of sea water, and allowed to settle tor three or tour hours. When the starch begins to coagulate. the water is decanted. Sea-water washes are repeated several times, followed by one fresh-water wash. Finally the starch is dried and stored as a powder. The powder is saved cvoith water for nse, and either caten HCCC as te pakeded peated ot 7 ako Che papaya is eaten fresh, sometimes mixed with rice or grated coconut. The fish consumed are primarily reef nsh such as the goattish, VZuélomicthys sp.. mul- lilt KRONULEALESe OteT The langusta, »pitv lobster, is eaten boiled. The clams are either boiled as a chowder or pred te DT a sen fe Phe ob ay eat ts sometinies Glew dried im the sun arter baking and kept tor several days. Birds are caren either baked or boiled, . 1 wee eae ue booty uv nt Moy an bard cues. usieuiy cared ered, form only an ineidemal part ar the diet; they are used principally when the Rengelapese are visitme islands other than their main island or soeYat eeanae. Ve? big cud evighenm ave eden pensaron special occasions. The source or tresh water in the area ts cisterns. Ciround water, though potable in certain areas during che runy season, ts not ordinarily drunk. (fF the imported foods, vice, wheat flour, and canned corned beef appear to be the most important. Many other products are imported from time to time, such as sardines, C-ration. ship's biscuit, aud candy. In 1958 large quantities of C-rattons were consumed. Many individuals preter the imported foods. MATERIALS AND METHODS Phe C-ampws vere nected uring a sige 24-hr period in September, 1939, at Rongelap tsland, taking care that the composition and the amount corresponded to the composition and ammount actually eaten by the individual. (Bwio Soap, furmerc villaee seeretary, und Neil Morriss, Trust Territory Resident -\griculturist at RoungeInp Atoll at that time, or one of the authors coliveted each saimple.: Wet weights of the samples were taken im the neld. The samples were then dried at “°C and shipped to the University of Washington, Seattle. Caution must he used in collecting to he reasonJoly sure tat sce dative wetiuns are a tense renreseltation. Mister standing ahh ke RG desire to please can ecusily lead ~ome Rongelapese tw provide merely a collection of tniscellaneous tood items rather than actual daily rations of prepared toud. lt was felt that a few samples com- let, Veuiyarus sp., surgeon-tish, .leauthurus sp. and the siganids. The fish ure eaten haked, boiled, or raw. The three fish we have observed the Rongelapese to eat raw posed of items and portions actually seen to be consumed were preferable to many samples of uncertain origin. Consequently, some samples prortered by individuals were discarded. alsy preserved by baking and then drying in the san. Sometimes salt is added betore the isi are cried, number 3 «Table 1), for example, appears to be ridiculuusly low an the total amount consumed. Doubtless there must have been some “snacking,” but the eating habits of the Rongelapese are irregu- are goatfish, mullet, and siganids. [ish are Even so, there are obvious discrepancies. Sample 2