The Harvard African Expedition Book 1: July 14, 1926
Creator
Loring WhitmanDate
7/14/26Transcription
Wed July 14th
We called on the president today at 1000 all formidably dressed in whites. We picked up the american representative Mr. Clark and went down to the mansion-. Mr King met us in the reception room, a very good looking negro with full mustachios just turning gray – His introductory speech was a little bit stilted – as if he was reciting it. He & Dr. Strong talked about the supposed yellow fever for half an hour. Then another very smooth felicitation and we left. Drs Strong & Shattuck went to call on Johnson while the rest of us went to fix up papers for a permit of residence for which we needed extra photographs and our passports. And that finished most of the morning.
When we got home Hal we all started letter writing – it is mail day and we must be finished by 300 if we want any to go for two weeks. And we continued writing up to three. After that Shermans While we were writing letters home our first mail arrived from the states. It was quite a coincidence that as three of us were writing home to our families we should get letters from them.
We went out to Dinner at the Bussells – He is an american – from Va and very pleasant. He is the head of the customs here and as such has been of invaluable assistance both in getting our things thru at all and saving us on excessive duties – in fact we paid nothing. He is also a very important cog in the govt. wheel. His wife – from Peru is very charming indeed – she came out here in February against her families will to marry him. Her Father refused to even see her on the train at home. Of course that was not on account of animosity against Mr. Bussel but because they were so afraid of the unhealthiness of the country. It will be her first Xmas away from home. They gave use a very sumptuous meal including wine. And we sat talking until after 1130 – a very pleasant evening. They have a native harp there <Drawing of a harp> with a gourd base which is placed against the chest. The strings – usually 9 – are held horizontal. They also had some interesting spears & small statarets.