A Liberian Journey

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

8/16/26

Coverage

Lenga Town, Hinterland, Liberia

Transcription

August 16th. Kaka town.

I said farewell to Lango town yesterday. Just before leaving Loring took a picture of the town fetish. In the center of the compound there was one tree and at the foot of this the rough figure carved in wood. Beside this there was a basin in which food was kept. The whole village was only about 40 yds. square within the stockade and outside were the farms. I started alone at nine o’clock sending my boxes first before me and reached here at two-thirty. My pedometer registered 14 miles when I arrived here (Kaka town). My fever did not go above 100 yesterday and I did not mind the walk. As I came along through the villages I collected porters and sent them back for the other men. Loring Whitman was thus able to start and follow me, and he also arrived here later yesterday. Bequaert sent other boxes ahead and did not come yesterday. Theiler had arrived at Lango town the night before. So we are in three groups now, George with four of the men still at the base camp. Almost immediately after my arrival I interviewed the Chief, whose Liberian or Monrovian name is “Danny Walker.” I do not know his native name. He is a power in this part of the country and is reputed to have some 200 wives. As soon as he has no use for the new ones he gives them to different men who thereby become his slaves until they are able to pay him for the wife. I showed him my papers. He speaks some English but does not read. He called his clerk, who read the official documents to him. Through him I have been able to send back more porters to Lango town to bring on the other men and their things. He says he is 60 years of age. I am camped or rather quartered in the communal hall of the “town” larger and more spacious than our last quarters, and no goats and chickens running in and about it. There are not more than fifteen houses in this village but they are much larger and of better construction, but all with mud walls and palm-thatched roofs. The chief offered me a house but there is only one door and one small window for ventilation and the houses are very dark inside; so I preferred the communal hall with air on all sides. This morning I have had interviews with the chief and he is sending runners in all directions to secure men for me. I gave him as a “dash” half a belt of tobacco yesterday, which greatly pleased him. I have also promised him a case of gin when it arrives. Money does not mean so much to him. He owns the farms far and near and the people on them. I was interrupted here by the chief’s daughter, who begged me to dress an ulcer which the chief’s last wife had on her leg. I told her to bring her here and I have just dressed her leg. She has a typical tropical ulcer. Earlier in the morning after the chief had asked me to dress it she kicked over the bichloride solution and refused to have it done. This time she was penitent, a poor young slave, she is the latest wife, scarcely 15 or 16 years of age.

My eyes continue to ache considerably and my temperature continues around 100º. I have now had this fever for eight days. Yesterday the rash came out on my arms and chest. It is evidently dengue fever, the same one that Loring Whitman had, though I have not had it severely and have been able to travel and do some work.

My route yesterday was through the following towns: Left Lango town at 9 A. M. travelling northwest; at 9:30 reached <space> ; at 11:20 going north <space>; reached <space> town at 1:15 P. M. Just after leaving this town the trail goes south to White Plains; passed it at 1:40; arrived at Kaka town 2:25 P.M. This morning walked two and a half miles to the west and found the river Du, flowing southward and crossing the broad trail which runs due east and west. In spite of all the talk we have had this is the Kaka town of my map though its position is different. My greatest problem is to secure porters for so large a party.

Type

Diary

Citation