The Harvard African Expedition Book 1: July 25, 1926

Creator

Loring Whitman

Date

7/25/26

Transcription

                  Sunday July 25th                 A beautiful day and Dr. Shattuck & Hal have been fortunate in their trip up to camp. After getting everything ready & the truck sent off we waited – and waited. Finally at 800 the dodge – and Mr Ross came but for the next hour we worked in vain trying to get it to go. We cleaned spark plugs & let the chauffer get the timing out of kilter, before we finally got discouraged and sent the travelers off in Dr. Willis’ ford at about 930.

                  At 1000 I went down to Dr. Bonet’s where I took some pictures of some animal skins and a tame chimp. The latter is extremely sociable and likes attention. When this is lacking she turns handsprings or other wise cuts capers. It is really remarkable the way that damned critter can turn inside out practically without getting snarled up in its chain. We gave her a small table to play with which she sat on first, then got underneath it. Tiring of this she turned it over and sat in it with the legs around her. Then she tried standing on her head inside it etc.

                  After sitting & talking with Dr & Mme Bonet for about an hour I went forth to take some pictures of a ulcerated toe for the former. We then went in search of a bad leg but unfortunately the patient had left for new country.

                  In the afternoon I went down to Wolo’s where I took pictures of his entire family and later of him and his wife in native costume. Of course after that I must talk with them.

                  On my way home I felt a little “poor” – slight headache etc but decided that nothing was the matter as I mixed up chemicals and as soon as it was dark started to work. But as I sat in my improvised dark room I got colder & colder. I put on a coat – no good – I began to shiver. -  My first chill. – I didn’t start any more negatives and after supper I hung up the ones I had done and went to bed – Temp. 100.6

Type

Diary

Identifier

D1_Section23

Citation

Loring Whitman, “The Harvard African Expedition Book 1: July 25, 1926,” A Liberian Journey: History, Memory, and the Making of a Nation, accessed March 29, 2024, https://liberianhistory.org/items/show/3328.