Transcript | Annotation | Source: 89-4286-C-1(60-63)(PDF) | January 1978 Index
Got up at 5.00 to go to the bathroom, again at 7.00 – slept until 8.00.
Got up just before we came to the mouth of the river. Richard and Tim were up. Ujara explained the route we would take.
Till 9.30 we stopped at Morawhanna Village to register with the police. We were on the Mora River.
For breakfast we had coffee, pancakes and syrup.
The day was cloudy with a little rain. We looked at the jungle growth along the river, occasionally saw Amerindian huts and people
About 2.00 those who wished, helped themselves to a cheese sandwich.
We arrived at Port Kaituma at 3.00 having made excellent time. We were so early that the Temple people were not there to meet us. Davis started to walk but met the tractor on the way. The tractor pulled a trailer to carry us and all that came off the boat.
Personnel were unloaded from the boat first. Some of the luggage we brought with us. Then it was decided to send the rest of it later as the pigs had to be taken off. They had stood the trip well, with the exception of one who had been injured in the leg and was not allowed by the others to get in the feed.
We were taken to Jonestown. It is seven miles to the central part of the mission. We were given a warm welcome by our friends.
Our luggage we assembled under a green tent to be checked through before we could take it. We were warned that all things, magazines, and items for other people must be turned over to Rita Lenin (Tupper). My luggage had not arrived.
I was talking to people when Jim’s voice was heard on the loudspeaker from the Radio Hut. He mentioned he saw Edith Roller who “had fled from the CIA and taken refuge with us.” A crowd assembled in front of the hut, I among them.
Jim was confronting an older man, obviously a drinking type. The man had asked Roosevelt Turner for liquor or money to buy liquor. He had told Turner lies about children being poisoned (some children had gotten hold of insecticides and would have died but Jim miraculously had saved them) and had also told Turner that “you can’t get out of Jonestown.” Turner was then put on the floor. His squandering of money was brought up. Rocky Breidenbach was also questioned. Jim said he had just gotten out of jail.
The sun was hot. The mosquitoes were attacking my skin and they were eating good.
I ate dinner which was served in the dining tent.
Friday night is the time of the socialism classes which all are required to attend. They were being conducted in the school tent. I was invited to join a class but felt too tired and dirty.
I returned to the luggage pavilion but my things had not arrived. They were expected sometime during the night. We had not washed or showered, had a change of clothes, towel or washcloth. I had not brushed my teeth all day in the heat and I felt miserable. Someone said we could go to the warehouse to get what things we needed such as a washcloth, whatever was available.
Ran into Laura Johnston who kindly lent me a sheet and some clothes and the shirt of her room mate who works at night. She showed me where to shower and the cottage to which I was assigned.
Joyce Touchette made the assignments consideraton of age and evidently thought the cottages were more spacious than the dorms. The dorms are nearer the central area. Cottage No. 48 to which I was assigned is in the last row; next to the clearing. There are four two-level bunks and a loft. There were only three occupants. One was Diane Lundquist. I hadn’t known the others.
I slept badly. My ankles hurt. The blanket was too warm and without it I was too cold.