A Liberian Journey

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Tues July 13^th

Here we are back in Monrovia – after a long day. We got up at 500 Had chop & were underway by 600. For No 3. where we are to have our first camp. It was beautiful on the river in the morning and the monkeys & birds were much more plentiful. I shot a Diana monkey soon after we left NO 1. – a beautiful black monkey with a rich red brown and white markings. The first shell was a dud and I was forced to use NO 10s in the other barrel – we were lucky to get him at all. And scientifically it has proved very fortunate for we have found malaria parasites in its blood, intestinal worms, and an nearly term foetus. Later on I show and dropped a dull slate blue ibis but it was evidently only wounded for we were unable to find him in the thick tangled vines & roots on shore.

At last we go to NO-3 – smaller than the others with chopping going on close to the main bungalow. They are working on a steep hillside felling tremendous trees which fall crash to the ground with a roar like thunder – and as they start to fall there is a chorus of yelps from the many workers scattered out of sight in the shadow of the forest. It is quite impressive and being near at hand very convenient. We met Powers, in charge of the division, a very agreable English chap in a helmet and shorts. We walked around the place looking over camp sights to finally pick a place  on a levelplace on top of a knoll between the bungalow and the river. Powers said he would clear the stumps out for us. While we were wandering we saw some antelope tracks – good hunting Oh Kaa.

But we had to hurry away to get back to NO 2 for Dr. Willis and NO 1 for breakfast. Once more we dropped down stream between tangled banks with huge trees arching up over us and over the river. Monkeys occasionally scrambled away thru the branches, or queer black & white hornbills flew out of the tree tops as we rattled along. But we did not stop to shoot as were were late and must be on our way.

I must admit that I was very glad to get breakfast at 1030 – I was really hungry. After all getting up at five and eating breakfast at 1030 don’t go at all well together. We ate in a hurry both for pleasure and to be able to start – all packed – by 1100 for our long boat ride back to Monrovia. Going back was just as beautiful but with the current behind us we fairly flew along so that before we knew it we were back at the cut off. This cut off is about 100 yds long and saves 20 minutes travelling on the river in the launch – a good indication of the twistiness of the Bow and Du.

Just as we were coming up the narrow stream to Duport we flushed an exceedingly tame cinnamon colored colored teal with bright blue secondaries – I shot all round him but for the life of me I don’t think I shot him thanks to the antiquity of Dr. Bonets shells. – But we were back again at Duport and our river travel was over for a few days. – And so we drove triumphantly back to Monrovia to shave, eat, talk a while and go to bed early. 

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