The Harvard African Expedition, Book 2: October 24, 1926

Creator

Loring Whitman

Date

10/24/26

Transcription

Sun Oct 24th. Among our admirers yesterday was a youth – the son of Parmount Chief Bashman. Our next door neighbor This youth felt that his father was offended at our staying with a subordinate (a mere river chief) and suggested that we at least come over and call on him. In consequence Hal and I decided that it would be something to do and with Tobey as guide started off. 

      A word about Tobey is necessary here. This gentleman shorn grey haired and portly is the type of negro who that we are led to believe formed the best element among the slaves. He would be the trusted, polite, friendly, and reliable old chap to look after the young master and missy without fear of falling down in the job. His present task was rice, buying for a man in Sino. He had worked for the white’s along the coast and was versed in their ways. The night we had arrived he had become so to speak our unofficial guardian angel – had got water for us – hung up our things and generally made himself useful.

      Well, he was taking us over to call on Chief Bashman. We were again in an open county with many large rice and cassava fields and no big bush. And in the hour that it took to get to our destination we passed through 3 small (wee) towns. It is a country where the population is in many small units.

      When we got to Bashman’s town we were escorted to the end of the village by the chiefs son while Tobey went to look for the chief whom he respected evidently very much – for his ability. While we were waiting we had the opportunity of gazing upon an apparition – We had seen him before – he was among those who met us at the time we crossed the river but at that time we weren’t so impressed. Be it as it may he certainly was a sight – gray felt hat – with a red feather stuck in it, a complete veneer of white stucko which covered all visible portions of him except the palms of his hands – his eyes – and I guess his tongue. Even his little moustache was submerged. And on this frosting a few lines had been gonged as an added decoration. He wore the usual “smock” and bath towel effect of the “civilized” native. The village dandy, And we also had an opportunity to see the process being performed – 2 people working over a would be rival with complete concentration.

      When Bashman came – a tall thin hard lipped man – we started the formalities and extended our greetings. We told him where we had come from, where we were and where we were going. We also wanted him to send out native hunters for us. The fact that this speech by Hal hadn’t given him ? chance to assert his dignity annoyed him – and thru an interpreter of his own – for he wasn’t satisfied with Tobey he told us what amounted to a list of all the white men he had ever seen and when he saw them. He passed on to discuss the govt of the country and the question of arms. This then narrowed down to hunting with the result that he said he had no guns. A price now placed on animals, however, interested him. Then we casually made a mistake. He was offended by the fact that other people than he should get tobacco from us to which we answered that it was in return for gift and produce. So – he thought – and left us to get a dash for us for which we had to wait half an hour. During this time I saw a hawk in a tree which I stalked carefully. Then when within range I raised my gun – fired – and the hawk flew away while the natives laughed. Damn.

      On the way home I shot a squirrel which was chattering in a palm swamp – and as I shot, I saw its enemy a big green snake weaving its way thru the palm fronts. I shot again and the snake dropped tho we didn’t recover it. 

      After lunch I sat down and skinned the squirrel which was a long task with only a rather dull pen knife. I shaved a piece of palm to use in his tail for his wire – and was forced to use rather lumpy cotton to fill him. Then, too, with only plain salt I am afraid he will never dry in this weather – for we are again back to rains every day and a foggy haze at best. –

      And so another day gone. 

Type

Diary

Identifier

D2_Section41

Citation

Loring Whitman, “The Harvard African Expedition, Book 2: October 24, 1926,” A Liberian Journey: History, Memory, and the Making of a Nation, accessed March 28, 2024, https://liberianhistory.org/items/show/3413.