Mead to Boas - Apr. 7, 1926: [handwritten]

Dear Dr. Boas:

Your air mail letter made the boat all right giving me the information I needed just when I needed it. In accordance with your advice I am planning to present, not statistical summaries but illustrative case material. I shall try to have my material worked up and typewritten by the time I reach Europe. But in compliance with Miss Elliott’s letter I shall simply indicate to the N.R.C. that my finished report will be presented to them soon after my return to America. Thank you so much for getting the answer off to me at once for it considerably relieved my anxiety, and leaves me free to go ahead and write up my results. 

Ruth Benedict sent me the copies for the Congress and I had short[?] time to write her a hurried note asking her to send them in for me and to ask her opinion in the subject matter of the paper, in case you deemed it advisable for me to read one. I didn’t know where your opinion would be and I didn’t know what Dr. Goddard would wish me to do in case I represent the museum, so I thought it best to leave the matter open.

Now that this year’s field work is finishing up, its possible to look back and evaluate it. From the standpoint of the work itself I’m afraid the peculiarly sociable technique which I’ve had to employ on account of my problem, has spoiled me for more matter-of-fact work. It’s been such fun being able to talk the language and make speeches, being the center of genuine ceremonies, rather than merely a strictly scientific onlooker, etc. Polynesia with orders "to be one of them" is very pleasant work. All the unpleasantness has been extraneous, the heat, the few uncongenial white people, the coarse food, the various minor elements - all have kept the year from being an unalloyed delight - especially when these physical discomforts were added to my fear of failure.

These last days are simply a procession of ceremonial farewells and presentation of gifts. It’s a dreadful pity that the stuff is all so modern and influenced by the tourist traffic - because otherwise several Museums will be filled.

I’m also doing some collecting for the Bishop Museum, mainly small sample mats of different material and patterns, etc. The children are inaccessible except for about two hours a day, now that the government school, the pastors school and the curfew are in force.

I shall leave Manu’a by the next boat and do intense field work in Tutuila until the steamer. I plan to visit every village in Tutuila and make a special study of the variation of rank in that ten days or two weeks which I have left.

I shall not be entirely at ease until I have laid my work in your hands, but I am finishing up my stay in the field with a good taste in my mouth. It makes me very happy to realize that I will be back again with you next year.

With best regards to Mrs. Boas and the members of the Department.

I am - 

Sincerely yours,

Margaret Mead