19
transportation for men,
materials,
and ultimately copra,
is
an absolute necessity.
It is very difficult to estimate the degree of
utilization of
local
vs.
imported
foods.
One
can say,
however,
that the Bikini people will use imported foods to a much
greater degree than they did before they were moved from the
atoll,
This,
I believe,
is the trend throughout the Marshalls.
it is seen in the orientation toward a cash economy,
copra production.
purchase rice,
if the Bikinians have
flour and sugar,
the money they will
which have become staple food
items on Kili and elsewhere in the Marshalls.
foodstuffs,
including coffee,
tea,
of tne
diet and
cannot
be
These and other
canned meats and
will be purchased in large quantities.
part
based upon
canned
fish,
They form an important
considered
to be
luxuries.
I
would imagine that the abundance of fish and shellfish on
Bikini
and
fowl
would mean a
reduction
even canned meat.
in the purchase
The availability of
of canned
pork and
fish,
domestic
locally would probably affect canned meat purchase3.
Tne
use of wildfowl and turtles would also probably mean a decrease
in canned meat
purchases.
It
should
be
noted
and fish are very expensive in the Marsnalls.
consumer goods must
requirement
The
and
is
imported
reflected
over vast
in the cost
undoubtedly be
used
canned meats
These and other
distances.
to the
local foods such as arrowroot, pandanus,
squash will
foods,
be
that
This
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consumer on the atolls.
breadfruit,
bananas
in addition to imported
Arrowroot and pandanus were especially important and