Drought In The Gilberts
p. 15 · Read in the full issue
TARAWA, November 1.
CONDITIONS here at present are very unpleasant. Nearly all the Gilbert Islands, except Butaritari and Makin, are suffering from a severe drought. In some places there has been practically no rain for over a year. All the tanks which depend upon rain water are empty, and many coconut trees are dead. The population in most places is using the brackish water from the Islands wells— and it is not very good. The Government also is embarrassed by lack of transport.
The Nimanoa is lying in Tarawa with a broken tail shaft; the Margaret is on the reef at Nanumea, where she was lodged by accident when trying to enter the lagoon on September 15; and only the little Kia Kia is available for service.