A Liberian Journey

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

7/9/26

Coverage

Monrovia, Montserrado County, Liberia

Transcription

July 9th.

George and I and Mr. Clarke made our official call on the Secretary of State, Mr. Barclay, whose uncle was formerly a president of Liberia. Several people here had told me the government would probably try to prevent our going into the interior of the country; so the interview was important. I presented to him my letter of introduction from our State Dept. in Washington and told him what we would like to do. He said we were most welcome. I asked him if the government had any objection to our going through certain parts of the country and carrying on our investigations and hunting therein. He replied none whatever, we could go anywhere we wished. He said all our firearms would be admitted and the amount of ammunition I asked for (1/2 of our supply; we had figured we would not need more in Liberia). He said that President King was reading our Amazon report (!) and had expressed much interest in it. (I did. not say that I bet he would not read very far into it, particularly when he came to the technical chapters). Altogether the interview was most satisfactory to me as well as encouraging. However I do not really need any encouragement just now, as so far things have been very satisfactory and all the men are well, I enclose a circular of duties I issued just before reaching Monrovia. After reading it you may remark, “apparently Richard ne rien faire” and nevertheless perhaps you will add later as you read what I write from time to time “tu faire faire,” ne rien laissez faire. However, I shall strive not to interfere in individual work more than necessary to get the best results. I dined with Dr. Bouet on Saturday evening, to whom I had a letter of introduction from Dr. Brumpt in Paris. Dr. Bouet is the French Consul here and is also the most important physician in Liberia. It was he who made the report of seven fatal cases of yellow fever occurring in Monrovia last year to which I have already alluded in my earlier notes. He has had thirty years medical and scientific experience in Africa beginning in Madagascar, later in the Congo, and since for some years on the West Coast of Africa. He is a man a little over 60 but still retains great enthusiasm about scientific work. I speak of this because men who remain for so long a period in the tropics with very little life in cooler climates usually loose at least some of their enthusiasm and energy. Bouet has a delightful disposition. Madame Bouet is also very nice and affable. They were most kind and hospitable and entertained us very nicely. I took George S. with me to call on Dr. Bouet and he also invited him and Dr. Bequaert to the dinner. The latter (Dr. B.) he knew in the Congo. The other guests were Mr. Ross the manager of the Firestone interests here (he was in Singapore for some 12 years on the rubber estates before coming here), and Mr. and Mrs. Hines. Mr. Hines is Mr. Firestone’s personal representative here. Both he and Mr. Ross are very efficient men. Mrs. Hines is also very nice and affable, has many smart Parisian gowns and has quite a sense of humor. As she takes no exercise she will not stand the tropics well. I think she must have been on the stage once and she has since mentioned the fact that she was once in moving pictures in California. I merely mention these facts to give you an idea of what social life is like in Liberia. The evening was very pleasant. I do not want to do any more social life than is absolutely necessary in connection with the work. Dr. Bouet however can be very helpful to us as he is a man of considerable ability and is interested in medical botany and zoology. Someone must have been praying for me Saturday night -- Mr. Hines drove George and me in his car with Mrs. Hines and Mrs. Ross to the dinner and also brought us home. As we were starting back I had just gotten into the car and was sitting dawn with my three first left-hand fingers on the doorjamb. George jumped in, slammed the door hard and the door closed and latched with my three fingers in. I thought instantly that the bones of my three fingers were crushed to bits. It was a few seconds before I could explain to George and ask him to turn the handle and open the door. Well not to tire with details my bones were not crushed, there has been only perhaps a green stick fracture of the third finger. The fingers and tendons of my left hand (violin) are very strong and I suppose the instantaneous firm contraction of them helped to ease the bones. But it really was a miracle that my left hand was not ruined for violin playing. As a matter of fact it is recovering so rapidly I shall soon have full use of it. I can't understand how I got off so well.

Sunday morning I devoted to making plans for the interior. With reference to personnel, we will take: 4 head men--one as super head man, 2 cooks, 1 assistant cook, 9 individual boys, 1 washerman, 2 gun boys, 1 man for skinning animals, 1 man for carrying cameras, etc., total 21.

These are to accompany us throughout the expedition in Liberia. In addition to their pay they will receive 2 salmon tins of rice per man per day and occasionally some palm oil. This (with their food) will cost about $300 per month. When we are actually travelling we will need about 250 porters, which will cost about 30 cts. per man per day or $75 per day. As near as I can figure now the total for these items for, say, 3 1/2 months with days of full travel will cost in the neighborhood of $5,000. Through much of the country we must carry the rice to feed our men. So far the expedition including everything has cost about $10,500. The Secretary of the interior thinks it will be necessary in parts of the country to carry gin and tobacco for “dashes” (presents) to the chiefs. All the money for payment of servants, porters, etc. must be carried as silver. There is no paper currency in the country and no gold now; American money is not used here. As you know, however, I have some American gold thoughtfully provided in case of emergency.
I went to see the Guinea Pigs this morning. 18 of them died yesterday; I found many of them wet and dirty. I had Theiler get them out into the sunlight for a few minutes and later put them under the trees. I also had him buy some corn for their food. They had not been cared for very well I am sorry to say.

Sunday afternoon was devoted to calls (and conferences) upon Dr. Fusek, the Hungarian physician here, who has lived in Monrovia, to Mr. Dinkler, a German merchant who is interested in botany and has collected about Monrovia for the Berlin Museum, and Bishop Campbell. The latter came to dinner in the evening and talked interestingly and freely. He spent two years in the interior near the border of Sierra Leone going in by the railway in that country and then crossing the Liberian border. He told many interesting stories regarding the natives and their superstitions. He says there is still considerable cannibalism in parts. There is also considerable slavery. I hear these things also from other quite reliable sources and will speak of them later.

Monday morning I go into the interior to locate a position for our first base camp whither our supplies may be moved. Bequaert and Linder will remain here and get the supplies through the customs. I have already arranged with Mr. Bussel, the American customs receiver, regarding this. He has charge of all the customs. A part of the duties collected is devoted to paying the interest on the foreign loan. Harold Coolidge will have charge of the arms and ammunition and the storing of them. I am taking George S, and Dr. Allen, who is to take charge of the camp, and Mr. Whitman with me.

I shall write later of this trip into the interior. On my return Tuesday evening I found our Charge, Mr. Clarke, a little upset because the President had said Monday morning he would receive me on Tuesday morning and I was not here. However the President had sent word he would be glad to see me Wednesday when I had returned so there was no reason for Mr. Clarke to be disturbed about my not being here. I naturally have a great deal to do and I could not sit around waiting on the chance that the President would want: to see me Tuesday. As a matter of fact, the man who knew the part of the interior of Liberia where I wanted my first camp was leaving Monrovia on Wednesday and I either had to go with him Monday or go later alone. The President sent word he would be glad to see me and any one I wanted to bring with me. I thought it would be an experience for all the men to go, and so asked them to accompany me. So we all went, all in white, at ten o’clock, Mr. Clarke accompanying us. He introduced me to the President and I in turn introduced each man in turn to him, telling what their specialties were. The President said that we were most welcome and that he would be glad to do whatever he could to favor our work here. I replied and expressed our appreciation of the courtesies that had been extended to us by the Liberian Government and of our cordial reception here. I also said we would greatly appreciate any suggestions from the President regarding our program and our itinerary. I discussed with him somewhat regarding conditions in the country - medical, geographical and economic - and made some comparisons with other tropical countries. He also spoke of his last “message” to Congress, which I had read that morning. The interview was most friendly and I think he is very glad to receive an expedition of this nature from Harvard University. Wolo, a Harvard graduate, had previously told him the area covered by Harvard University and its buildings was much larger than that of the whole city of Monrovia. The President said he had been reading the Amazon report with much interest, though he must confess he found the technical parts far beyond him. After we had left he called Mr. Clarke and asked him to ascertain our plans and that he would like to entertain us at dinner before we left.

Type

Diary

Citation