A Liberian Journey

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                  Sun Sept 5^th After going to bed last night there was a terrific racket of I called crawled out of bed to see what it was all about and found 31 porters with their loads just in from Sua Koko. So I had the boxes stacked by torch light and chased them out telling them to come back in the morning for pay. They had a note from Bequaert reporting all in Sua Koko and coming on Monday.

                  As we breakfasted the porters returned for their money which we dished out. Then Allen & I went out with guns to look over the country. We went out behind the camp – out thru huge rice fields bordered by huge trees in one of which was a hornbills nest as far as I could see. At least a huge male hornbill flew to a hole in a horizontal limb about 75 ft above the ground. We found a nest of the Red & black weaver birds too. As for hunting we got 4 new species of birds – a 2 spurred Francolin and a kingfishers being 2. We also saw some guinea fowl but didn’t get any. In one section the rice was nearly ready for harvest and in that region were big flocks of assorted birds which rose like clouds. And around this region were little thatched huts on stilts their floors about 5ft. above the ground, from which the natives could overlook their fields and scare the birds. In some they cracked whips – from others strings ran out in all directions, others were the center of stone throwing. One young amazon about 14 with lusty voice and a strong arm stood on an ant hill with a huge sling casting veritable boulders with the greatest ease and yelling or rather bellowing at the top of her voice.

                  When I got back to camp I found some medical pictures awaiting me which I took. Then I helped Dr. Allen skin birds until lunch. After lunch I fixed up the darkroom. It is a circular building with very narrow doors – 2- and 1 narrow window. It also has a table. It is the office of the District commissioner and has papers around the wall. One is as follows:-

                  Interior Department

                  Monrovia Liberia

                  Circular NO 1   Jan 6 1926

                  The District Commissioners, Kru Governors

                  Town headmen and other officials of the interior service

                  Subject: Foreigners carrying Liberian women & children to their homes and making tribal tattoos or marks on them

                  Sirs,

                  … -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                  No foreigner is allowed to take with them a Liberian woman or girl under the garb of matrimony marriage or the excuse of dowry paid for her

                  Dowry paid by foreigners for women shall imply ownership in the native sense as wife only during the period of such foreigners sojourn in Liberia

                  etc.

                                                      Sect of Interior

                  On another letter in script.

                                    “We can implicitly trust in the God of nations through there may pass some dark clouds in our lives we know that the sun is still shinning”.

                  After fixing up my dark room I took some pictures around the place featuring some beautiful clouds.

                  In the evening I started my developing – 200 ft of movies and 24 stills – but I had a little trouble due to water shortage.

Sun Sept 5 – After going to bed 31 porters came singing in at 930. Got up – counted them & had loads stacked by torch light. Bitten well by mosquitoes. As we breakfasted they returned for their pay. After the meal went collecting with Allen to the tune of 4 new species (5 birds). Came Saw some guinea fowl but didn’t get them. Dr. Allen got a two – spurred francolin. Rice fields packed with birds. Natives have huts thru fields from which to drive away birds. Some use a network of strings to be pulled. One young amazon on ant hill yelling lustily & heaving boulders with sling. Returned to take a few medical pictures & help Dr. Allen skin birds. After lunch fixed up building for dark room & got water etc. It is a circular building with 2 very narrow doors and a still narrower window. I also got some pictures of clouds & scenery which I hope will be good. Quien Sabe? Developed 20 ft movies & 2 doz stills with difficulty due to water shortage. 

                  Mon Sept 5^th

                  I hung around camp during the first part of the morning. At about 1000 Theiler & Bequaert game in heralded by small boy and Martin – I took some movies of their porters as they came up the road and in the gate and of Dave who was with them. Dr. Shattuck came a little later behind a money box. We rejoiced in the reunion and all had tea – I mean they all did. Then Dr. Strong, Hal & I went down to the village to take pictures of the chief of Gbanga. On the way we stopped for pictures of a woman in native stocks – This rig is a log with a hole in it thru which the subject puts a foot. <Drawing of log stocks> The log can be carried by a rope as shown. This woman we were told had been seized as a security for her husbands debts. He had left Gbanga, presumably to get the money. I also took some pictures of cicatrization on the stomach of a girl and a man with one arm a mass of ulcers. Then we arrived at the chiefs compound.

                  This is very like that of Sua Koko with the same projecting narrow passage way for an entrance. I took pictures of Dr. Strong & Hal disappearing into it and then followed myself. I came out into a cramped square surrounded by the common huts – 5 of them – on whose porches sat countless spectators drawn by the movie camera and the chief.

                  The chief, a cannibalistic looking chap at best with a sly, tyrannical & yet jocular face, sat in a blue gown at a common garden variety folding kitchen table. On each finger were about 5 copper or silver like rings and an equal number on each wrist. On his ankles were a couple of leopards teeth and more metal work. We filmed him and then persuaded his chief wife – a slim 200 pounder to be conservative – who sat beside him on a box. I took pictures of Dr. Strong shaking hands with the chief and later departing.

                  On the way back to camp I took some pictures of a squawking child with umbilical hernia

                  After lunch I got some medical pictures – ulcers – hernia etc and continued to repair my outfit. In the evening – more developing.

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