A Liberian Journey

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

9/19/26

Coverage

Gbanga, Hinterland, Liberia

Transcription

Sunday, September 19th.

Since my return on Wednesday evening I have been busily employed with the scientific work -- at the microscope from seven in the morning until four or four-thirty in the afternoon, except for conferences or short interruptions. Snakes seem to be more plentiful in Liberia than in any tropical country I have visited. Yesterday seven were brought in by our native hunters. On the trail a large green snake struck at me on the way back from Garimou to Banga, but fortunately I had on leather leggings which are an almost sure protection for one’s legs, as are leather boots. Snakes appear to be even more prevalent here than in Amazonia.

On Friday morning the driver ants started to invade our precincts in the direction of the out house we use as a kitchen, about twenty-five yards from our tents. They came in billions over the stockade and through the crevices of the fence, forming enormous columns along a front of about thirty-five feet. It is almost impossible to give any idea of the enormous numbers in which these ants may travel. These had come from the scrub forest. We saw such insects as crickets and flies, and lizards -- the latter from three to five inches long -- in their path, quickly killed and destroyed. They first attack a running lizard by a few ants clinging to him, then each ant clings to the neighboring ant. In a second or two the weight of the several thousand attached ants is too great for the lizard to drag. Then he is quickly covered by a black mass and in comparatively few minutes the ants devour him and only his bones are left. I called to Harold and asked him to bring a small tin of kerosene, which he did, and poured it in a thin line along the earth in front of the advancing columns. The effect was almost instantaneous. As soon as the advancing edges reached the kerosene the columns reversed their course and started even more quickly back than they were advancing. In places the retreat was more like a rout. It was astonishing to observe such a universal and quick retreat. Within fifteen minutes there was not one ant to be seen in the compound. I shall try to carry a little kerosene with us in future for such a purpose. I had been told that only fire would stop them and that then they scattered and came back after the fire or around the edges.

Near our working compound we have a large wood fire burning day and night with a frame above it, and this covered with canvas. This is for drying the botanical specimens. There are now over 700 specimens in the collection, nearly twice as many as have been before reported from Liberia. We have also over thirty different species of mammals. There are already over 100 specimens in our zoological collection besides the birds and reptiles. Yesterday I examined some African termites of the same species I did in the Amazon, and found the same parasites, Infusoria and Spirochaetes, therein. I also studied particularly a case of nephritis, one of juxta-articular nodules and some ulcerations of the skin. The paramount chief came to call with his retinue and said he wanted to arrange a native dance for us but that he must have some gin in order to do this.

I have noticed that Harold Coolidge has often taken the opportunity to sit in George S’s armchair. I have had one for some years that I have never used, as I sit on a campstool as the other men do. So I presented Herald with my chair which I unpacked a few days ago. He hugely enjoyed putting it together and has since much appreciated it. It is indeed the most comfortable armchair for camp I know of, even better than the one George has. I am so glad that Harold enjoys it so.

The paramount chief has just come back to serenade us. Behind him there walks a man with a somewhat hourglass-shaped drum which has disks at the sides like a tambourine. Another man carries a gourd which makes a noise like a rattle when shaken and which marks the time -- noise without music. I should say it is the rhythm of the drum that gives the time of the steps of their dances.

Type

Diary

Citation