Left Central at 7:00 a.m. for evacuation to camp in the hills. In the group: six women—Mdmes. Woods, Conant, Brown, Gibbs, McMaster, Vaughan; five children—June (age 21), Charlene (7), Beth (3), Clay (2), Douglas (6 weeks); three men—Mr. White, Mr. Conant, Mr. Brown. The animals included six dogs, four cats, 75 chickens. There were twelve servants—four women, eight boys. Forty cargodores, with bamboo poles, carried our belongings. There were thirty carpenters and helpers already at camp. Not a house on the trail, but occasionally a bush-headed Negrito peered through underbrush at us. Many kilometers of the trail so steep that steps had been carved in mountain side and bamboo railing attached to poles erected to aid women and children, as well as men with burdens. Tiny baby went in an open-weave clothes basket, with securely fastened top, rope handies on each end, through which pole Passed, carried by two cargodores.
First night seven people in my one room house. For supper prepared cereal and canned fruit, with milk for children. First night no one slept, though all had thought we would. Too tired!
First night drinks in glasses or cups by candlelight, in celebration. No chairs. Sat on beds and served from two bridge tables. Most too tired to go to river for bathing so, like Mrs. Brown, had a “Russian” bath—perfume without benefit of water.
Workers who are brought in from outside will sleep in the least finished houses. Must keep fire burning at all times for food as no marches for starting new fire each meal. No mosquitoes! Houses of local materials cut from woods, except for flooring, with nipa roof. Houses six or seven feet off ground with my room for servants underneath. Outhouse a tiny duplicate of house. Kerosene lamps. Drinking water, from 5-gallon tins, is brought from spring two kilometers away.
John Cowper Paney, professor when I was student, said, “Culture is determined by extent of inner resources.” Now we must draw on our inner resources. No reading material, no radios.