The Harvard African Expedition, Book 2: October 12, 1926
Creator
Loring WhitmanDate
10/12/26Coverage
Granh, Hinterland, LiberiaTranscription
Tues Oct 12th We got up leisurely at about 530 to chop and get our loads off, and after a short hrs walk arr at Granh – our original destination. The total mileage from tappi is about 25 miles. When we got there we debated for quite a while whether it would be better to go right on to Weea with the same porters or not. Granh town was deserted thanks to the D.C. taking all the available men to carry him to Daoru – and all the rest of the people had run away. It was a delicate position – for it we stayed and our men ran away we would not be able to move. On the other hand if we went we were told that it would take us till dark at least to get to the next town – all day three bush, and our porters were tired. In the end however we decided to rest up – both because it was Dr. Georges birthday and because the headman promised that his men would not run away. In the meanwhile Hal and I - mostly Hal bought rice to feed the porters and to carry with us for emergency.
Leave Tappi 845 Arr. Zai 540
10 SWW
10 SW – to Barnike (potato vine)
5 lost
5 SW
25 W to Zaigbue
20 W 5 ½ S to Vanh
75 W
<-----(W)
3 SW to Granh
10 WSW
15 S
15 SW
10 SSW
10 SW
<-----(W)
5 lost
55 S
5 Stop
20 WSW
30 SW
5 S
15 E
10 SW
10 S
10 SES
10 SSW
10 SSE
10 SW
15 SE
5 SW
<-----(W)
10 SW to
To Uwee
10 WN
10 W
15 SW to
10 SW
15 S
10 SW
15 W
to Zai
Distance 22 miles
Leave Zai 645 Arr. Granh 745
10 SSE
10 S
10 SSW
10 S
10 SSE
10
Distance 3 miles
We settled down for the day which we declared a holiday. We got out our beds and had them set up – we had the boxes and trunks stacked under the edge of our house, and we bought a goat – in honor of G.C.S. which was pursued around the village before being finally cornered. Dr. Strong and Shattuck shaved and washed. Hal took a bath and I spent an hour stackin refurnishing and oiling the folding stands for our wash basins and bath tubs. Then we settled down to a life of ease.
Our house is really well designed – with a raised place for the beds like this. <Drawing of inside and outside of house> It was very comfortable and cool in the bargain. Also the beds being on a platform – a woven floor were in above the dirt and we could step around them with no worry about getting dirty. It was a great success. Hal took a nap and then read – Dr. Shattuck read and wrote in his diary as did I. Dr. Strong wrote up his notes and practiced on his violin both in the morning and afternoon. So passed the day. I located us on our map.
About 300 a thunder shower came upon us and I doubt I have ever seen it rain harder for 10 or 15 minutes before. It came down so fast that the level ground became a pool with rapids running thru it where there was a slight drainage. I got out the movie camera and took some pictures for the fun of it. But as quickly as it came it went, and soon the sun was shining as brightly as ever and the ground was dry.
At about 300 we offered to give the porters rice but were told that they had gone out to look for wood and cassava. When however we called them at 500 we found that instead of foraging they had slipped two by two out of town and were on their way home – unpaid. It was rather awkward – particularly as there were only some 14 left out of 60 – And all this just as Dr. Georges birthday supper was ready to serve. We palava’d, threatened, swore and stormed but it yielded none of our lost men – and w were rather discouraged. Still we gave rice to the remainder and sat down to dinner. – Goat meat, sweet potato – squash, rice, a bottle of Sauterne brought from Monrovia – cocoa etc with Plum pudding for desert – a real bang up feast. And how we did eat. Afterwards Hal and I took a short stroll thru the again deserted town before going to bed. What will the morrow bring?