54120\1-50

day after tomorrow that they could poss-
ibly get at it. There is nothing that
they can do even though they would like to
be helpful. The Ministerio de Defensa
Nacional of Guatemala City was to send the
permits to the custom office at Barrios,
which, if received, would have made matters
simpler. There is no reason why one odd-
calibered gun and a box of shells should
give one so much trouble. Tomorrow morning
at 7:30 I will leave for Guatemala by train
and arrange for permits and wait for the
car. I have learned one thing about :
Central American people and that is that
while they say they will do a thing, they
generally will not until they are forced

to do it. A personal interview or approach
is necessary. At the Exporting office in

- New Orleans I remember signing six differ-
ent sets of papers which they claimed
would be sent by air mail to Barrios to

get the car out of hock but to date I have
not found one of them in the various
offices we consulted in Barrios, nor did
these offices ever know of such papers
being required--just another big show by
these people. The cost to ship the car to
Guatemala is $125, or so. I think I shall
see if they have special rates for
scientific organizations. The amount I
saved by reduced fare on the Cheriqui will
just about pay for the car fare.

Landing at Puerto Barrios is like
landing in another world. It is even more
tropical than Assam; and situated on a bay
and sea, adds to its enchantment. The
people are India all over. Most of the
trees near the port are palm. I cannot
understand why there are not more deaths