A Liberian Journey

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Thur Oct 21^st Off again – This time there was no palava – and the whole day has been free from then. Our men are evidently satisfied with their treatment and with us. It was the same kind of going as before – ridges covered with thick forests of rather slender trees, - swamps with their palms and bogs – and everywhere roots to trip us and catch us at every step. Still I have seen worse trails – as well as better.

            We forbore to stop by a stream for lunch – remembering yesterday and so at about two pulled up under a big mammoth tree on top of a ridge to eat our frugal meal of a handful of Petit Beurre crackers and some cheese. We sat on a huge root. But even as we ate it started suddenly to pour – a drenching tropical storm against which nature offers but poor protection. We sneaked as far as we could between the roots in hopes of keeping dry – but at last where the water began to roll down the trunk we got discouraged and plunged out into the now roaring trail – our arms held out from our sides – to keep our shirts from adhering to closely to us – and our boots squishing with every stop. So we passed thru the wilderness passing elephant ?? without paying much heed to it. – Still there must be quite a few elephants in this section of the bush. We caught up to and passed the rear vanguard of our porter band – but with heads down they were pushing along now – no thought of stopping – just a splash thru the flooded trail until we should reach camp and a fire. They were chilly – so were we.

            At about 400 the rain let up – sort of let go our collars with a parting shake – we reached what we were told was the best set of shelters, and promptly decided to stop.. There were two sets of them – fairly well separated – but we were quite assured by now that our men would stick – and we were not worried to have them ¼ of a mile away in a separate establishment. So we set about making camp – after first seeing about getting a cook fire going. As Sando was very tired after carrying a load all day – I detailed Momo to help him and set up my own bed – mosquito net etc. Then seeing that all was ready I went for a swim in the stream which flowed past our shelters – a nice stream with sandy bottom and pools. I was shortly joined by Strong and Hal. – A dark night – no stars – and chilly – but we were warm – in dry clothes and with an attempt at a rainproof thatch shelter above our heads. – We had a hot curry for supper. 

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