A Liberian Journey

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

9/11/26

Coverage

Gbanga, Hinterland, Liberia

Transcription

September 11th, Gbanga.

Bequaert, Linder, Theiler and Shattuck on Monday, September 6th, in the order named. They had made use of the road-men and other porters sent back to them, and had no difficulties, though travelling very slowly. My first two or three days in this district were largely spent in searching the surrounding country for a camp site within a radius of five or six miles. I found no site as favorable as the present one, which is on the top of a low hill with altitude 870 feet. One of the next things I took up was the organization of the hunting facilities in connection with the zoological work. I arranged with the two chiefs of the town to send us native hunters and we have supplied them with the “cap” guns we purchased in Monrovia, Model of 1863. I have also gotten in touch with native hunters who use bows and arrows. I do not think there is much chance of our own amateur hunters in our party bringing in many mammals. Harold C. often goes out for a day but it is difficult country to hunt in, and he usually has poor luck. He reports seeing a number of monkeys. George shot one diana monkey. They are very plentiful about here. However, we already have three specimens of this animal. The native hunters have done better. They brought in day before yesterday a duiker, a small antelope-like animal, so-called on account of its habit of diving quickly into the bush. Yesterday they brought in another species of duiker, but of the same genus, Cephalopus, so-called on account of the tuft of hair on its head, I have hopes of getting more of the larger mammals shortly. Loring Whitman occasionally gets birds which add to the collection. The botanical and entomological work is going on very satisfactorily. Shattuck, Theiler and myself have been very busy with the medical and pathological work. We have a clinic every day, George takes the history and makes the medical notes and I usually excise the lesions, make the microscopical preparations, cultures, etc. assisted by Theiler. I am at my microscope from seven in the morning until twelve and from about twelve-thirty until four-thirty or five. I have had benches or microscopical tables put up and the clinic and all the work of the expedition but the collecting is done under this large hall or shed open on all sides. There are no interruptions to speak of, (telephones, etc.) and so you can see what a large amount of work we are able to accomplish. I have also had tables put up for all the other men for their work. It really seems to be an ideal place for work in a base camp and all the men are much pleased with it. Our tents are pitched around this central hall in which we eat, as well as work. Breakfast is at five-thirty, cold lunch with hot tea at twelve and dinner at five-thirty. We are not able to do night work of any moment except that Whitman often does his developing after dark, from six-thirty to eight or nine o’clock and we are usually in bed by eight o’clock and up at five. Such is our routine.

We have found a number of interesting pathological conditions in man and animals, some hitherto undescribed or of obscure causation, and I am satisfied with the results accomplished thus far. I have been here nine days. Allen has done very well with the reptiles and small mammals but as yet not with the larger ones. There will be work here in this region for several weeks for him and for Bequaert and Linder. We should however later make some observations in more open country, if we can find it. So I am starting tomorrow morning at six to go as far north as the French Guinea border. I am taking George and Whitman with me.

Type

Diary

Citation