Journal and notes of H. Hamlin : Whitney South Sea Expedition July 20, 1927 to August 8, 1930.
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resentative.Then the University,an institution of over 1000 students and remarkable facilities- five or six large build- ings,outdoor swimming pool,football and baseball fields,and a couple of barrack-like dormitories.We stopped in at the labor- atories of pineapple and sugar commissions where scientific knowledge is developed concerning the culture and protection of these valuable products. These are the foundation of the wealth of Hawaii.Insects and birds of particular species have been imported to combat pests,worms and bugs,that has threat- ened their welfare. At the Bishop Museum we met Dr.Gregory,a much-antici- pated event.Our friend Bryant took us on a rapid but veryin- structive tour of the museum collections.He is Yale S'21 and spent 9 months on the"France",so his kindness was extremely welcome.He is sort of head curator and an etymologist by spe- ciality.The Polynesian stuff was wonderful representing prac- tically all the Pacific archipelagoes.It was our luck also to meet Dr.Buck an ethnologist and an authority on the Maoris.A Dr.Stokes urged us to discover the method of manufacture em- ployed in the making of adzes in the Solomons.Gregory told us not to forget land-shells and Bryant,of course,insects.I do hope we can send them something. Panini(native name of Frances Farrington),and Drs. Gregory and Bryant were at the pier with sweet leis of ginger- flower and awa pue,the blossom that exudes the very essence of the islands.The whole cerulean scene is before our eyes again- the water,the gentle slopes,and the cloud-capped mountains;na- tive boys do swan-dives off the hurricane deck as the Aorangi backs out.Furtive looks both on ship and shore;aloha oe,and the blessed islands are a wraith.In the harbor one casts one's lei into the ocean- if it floats,the traveller will surely return. August 4 Lat.15-20 N. Long.161-14 W. Run 408 Saw a few shearwaters and another larger bird,probably a species of petrel,brown dorsal markings with white on its underwings.Will the day ever come when I can recognize a spec- imen with confident assumption? The Committee has inaugurated another sports competition which we both entered to do right by the Museum.I was eliminated in the first round of the deck quoits. August 5 Lat.9-24 N. Long.164-46 W. Run 412 In the second round of the deck tennis I was thorough- ly drubbed by a Jew named Lazarus.G.R.reports that he saw two albatrosses this morning. August 6 Lat.3-45 N. Long.167-56 W. Run 389 Saw what appeared to be some species of petrel this morning.The Indian Ocean has attracted my interest lately and its islands especially- the Chagos,Seychelle,Maldive,Laccadive, and Andaman groups.Have these been thoroughly investigated?To- morrow around two A.M. we cross the equator.The mutation of cl imate has been one of the fascinations of the voyage,passing gradually into an opposite solstice. August 7 Lat.2-12 S. Long.171-25 W. Run 414 (Sunday) The Church of England had to get on without me this morning.About 1:45 we raised Mary Island,a typical coral atoll, the island furthest west of the Phoenix group.The bird life was wonderful.Gannets were plentiful and mostly of one species;