A Liberian Journey

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                  Tues Aug 24^th, More rain for a change making practically 10 days without more than ½ hr sun. every body packed up & then we waited – no porters. About 900 they began to trickle in and we sent off Shattuck – more came – Coolidge & Linder went – still more – Theiler and Strong went. Dr. Allen, Bequaert & I waited. After From then on the men trickled in in small batches of 10 or so and we thought it wise to send off the tents & other boxes first – This continued all morning – tents, chop boxes, etc slowly oozing out of sight along the road. At 1100 we decided to have an early lunch in case porters came soon after. Of course we had no dishes, cups, knives, forks or spoons so that we ate with sheath knife & fingers and drank tea out of cheese cups tins. Still it was a very successful meal. Dr. Allen, who’s ability to quote or garble apt bits of poetry is unequalled, crashed thru for a home run. There has been a question brought up by some members of the party that we have not had enough to eat for lunch, and as we ate cracker after cracker we commented on the fact until Allen quietly mumbled into his tea – “and damned be he who cries ‘I’ve had enough”. Dr. Allen can quote from almost any piece of literature at will – and no occasion arises for which he cannot supply some excellent touch. And always in a quiet way which keeps us quoting his bon mots to one another. He has completely endeared himself to all of us by his cheerful and quiet good nature, never complaining, never criticizing, always at work, and always with a kind word for one and all. He is one of the most loveable men I have ever met.-

                  But to continue – between 1200 and 200 porters straggled in in lots of 10 and 15 and were shipped off with tents, chop boxes, and other supplies until we were ready had nearly emptied the entire hut. Then they stopped coming and we decided to spend the night as it was too late to get anywhere. So Dr. Allen & I went bird collecting along the road for a couple of hours. During the last few days I have been shooting a cylinder bore 20 guage shot gun with rifling near the muzzle and have averaged about 4 shots to a bird. Today however I had Allens 12 guage and every shot was successful. I got a crow and an eagle on the wing and 5 small birds. So I felt much cheered and set down to skin the crow with a clear conscience. We worked until dark skinning as much of our catch as possible in the short time we had. Then came supper – in borrowed bowls of rice & chicken. It was a pleasant meal in the fitful glow of a candle dipping our fingers into the rice. And so to bed. 

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