A Liberian Journey

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

10/23/26

Coverage

Towya Town, Sinoe County, Liberia

Transcription

Saturday, October 23rd.

Today we are drying our bedding, clothes, etc. The afternoon of October 21st there was a very heavy shower in the forest which lasted several hours, and the forest dripped all night. We put our cots under a palm shelter which also dripped upon us throughout the night. Today I have sent 27 men back from here for our boxes in the forest. It will take them five days to get them and bring them here.

This town, in the Kulu country, is quite different from any we have seen. The houses are built three feet above the ground and not with mud walls, but of palm thatch. We have had one side of the house removed and all are sleeping inside. The floor is also of rattan thatch. The ceiling is not high enough for us to stand -- something like native Filipino or Cuban houses.

I am obviously less anxious since our hardest journey through the unknown is over, I think. The natives here are friendly, and we are able to purchase chickens, bananas, edo and bread fruit. The next problem, the trip to Sino, is being arranged for. I have just sent the Paramount chief of the next town (Bashman) a present (“dash”) of tobacco and the request for a hundred porters for Sino. All our “faithful” porters were well paid and dashes of tobacco given them. This morning the men of the group came back and begged us to let them carry our things on to the coast. In future they will have more confidence in white men. We find we are still three days from the coast (Sino). I had planned to reach there about October 28th but may decide to await our other supplies here.

Type

Diary

Citation