A Liberian Journey

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On board the S.S. Wolfram

Nov 29^th 1926

Dear folkses,

            Cheerio,  - Boy, Zwei Bien -. Well here we are again – Jimmie Galagher still hanging on.

            I got your letters and I must admit that I had some surprises. You see I got your middle one first – A definite break with no warning. Then came dawning suspicion followed by the first signs of restlessness. So I had to do some rather tall imagining to get the drift of the whole matter. However, I did get it straight in time. All I can say now is merry Christmas and keep a stiff upper lip. We may yet swing some rubles out of this trip.

            I am not going to write you a journal about this trip because I hope to be able to do that same once and for all in a small book which I hope to mail from Matadi. You will then get enough of the dull drip from my pen to make up for all that I am not going to write now. In fact, as you may gather from the start, I haven’t the slightest idea just what I am going to write. And I haven’t had a beer today – for a change.

            First of all – seeing that you wont get this until about the 5^th of January and won’t be able to reply to me until the middle or end of April, I will ask after your healths. How are you? I hope you are well. – Now after that – How are the children? And so the formalities are over.

            But what I really wanted to say was twofold- first the black ladies are not very inspiring – hence I am as I was – secondly the German beer is – well very good indeed – these are my two great discoveries. Of course the first one may be my error and I might be persuaded to leave the pamelian paths should I be left alone for an unlimited time – but – well – as it was – no I prefer to be able to see my enamorata – (is that OK) in the dark. But the beer, I always like to have it either during the day or in the dark – It me fait rien. In fact during the last week Theiler and I have enjoyed it muchly – but as the bar closes at 10:00 – which is really too early to get anywhere – well I have decided what’s the use and have quit for the ay. Otherwise I have and will be very good much to your disappointment, no doubt. Why do you realize that I only had about 6 whiskey and sodas in Liberia in 4 ½ months – and those were not on the same night? I arsk yu, I arsk yu.

            But to get back to our a subject dear to both of our hearts – no I don't mean what you mean – (that for W. III) – I think that we may be allowed to write some article or maybe an illustrated book should there be enough material to do so. And altho my diary has been rather tired at places we may yet be able to yank something out of it which might (who knows?) turn something into our joint coffers. So don’t laugh and start sharpening up your pen for some sunny day. I have about 675 negatives of sorts many of which will be uninteresting to you – and very few of which are as you hope. – Still it is variety which is the spice of life and I hope that the Congo will produce something snappy.

            You know I dread settling down to the rather dry and depressing job of writing a detailed account of all that's happened from day to day – I feel that it is my duty and I will as Dr. Allen quotes from some nonsense poem. After all I have written the whole blooming thing once in my diary and I have to paw and maul it again. But I will.

            By the way talking of Allen – well he is a genius – And if you want somebody to compile an anthology of nonsense verses stories etc by all means look him up. And besides he can quote these darned things at will and always absolutely to the point. For example we had had a long argument about “chop” (Liberian for food both N. and V.) about 7/8 of the expedition had been complaining that they had not been getting enough lunch while Dr. Strong maintained that tea and a cracker was ample. Well after a couple of days all the party but Bequaert Allen and I had left and we were waiting over for fresh porters. As all our dishes were gone we were drinking tea out of a half cheese tin and were sharing rice out of a common cooking pot. There suddenly as we were reaching in for another fistful Dr. Allen murmured thru a rice crammed mouth – “And damned be he who cries ‘Ive had enough’.” Bequaert and I exploded.

             Another story, this time as an illustration. Dr. Allen was giving a very clever farewell speech – He spoke about our being friends and also that we knew one another well. “And still we are friends – as the little girl was heard to say – ‘A friend is a person who knows all about you – and still likes you’.” And occasionally he gets in a dig. Coolidge one evening was telling how his family had had something to do with building some public edifice and had been very disappointed when the mere Lt. Governor came (Cal. Coolidge). In fact they had felt quite hurt. “Now” says Hal “we find that he is a sixth cousin”. “What price glory” murmurs Allen into his collar. Oh well you cannot beat him. And for his kindness, consideration, cheery nature and industry he has no peer. Each of us felt as tho we had lost our best friend when he left for home. Look him up and stick by him – you will find it worth your while – And he has been collecting whaling material all of his life until the present antique wave sent prices too high. His collecting includes stories (and he has some very rare pamphlets of very early date), pictures and books. And the beauty of it all is that he has collected all the nonsense stories, pictures books and (I forgot them) songs with the same vengeance. There ought to be something well worth while there – He writes well, too. Dr. Glover M. Allen – To museum of comparative anatomy, Harvard University – Think it over, his acquaintance is worth a lot.

            Well we crossed the line today – to change the subject – and at last stopped the flow of pleasantry such as “well you’ll feel her bump when we go over” or “come here quick” and as you look over the rail expecting sharks or whales – “there’s the link” pointing at the horizon. After we had crossed “Do you notice we are going faster now? Well you see were going down hill and we have lost the influence of the N. Pole.” Well that's over at least. And in another 4 days we will be at Matadi.

            I have become the ornithologist of the expedition now and have already picked up a large collection of 16 birds as a nucleus. If all goes well I will probably get some birds and some pictures unless I get it out of my system. The worst of it is that Bequaert Linder and co. prefer my services as collector which annoys the chief. Still its going to be a devil of a job settling down again when I get home Still However, we shall see.

            There is only one thing more which comes to my mind at the present moment – Namely my future – for the present – if you know what I mean. I have two opportunities which I will give in order of preference. 

I Mombassa – Bombay

Bombay via Agra and Delhi to Calcutta

Calcutta to Rangoon or Moulmein.

            Then either by railroad or by the Saloen R. go up into the Shan (Sjan) states of Burma. And down thru the Lao states of N. Siam – past Kyengao and Kyeng Mei to Rahan and Bangkok. Then home via Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kopi Yokohama and the West.

II Mombassa via the east coast of Africa to Beira (Mozambique). Then thru N. Rhodesia to Victoria falls and back – Southern Rhodesia to Pretoria – Theiler’s birthplace and home. From there to Durban and along the coast via Port Elizabeth to Cape town – and home via the Union Castle line to England.

            However, time, money, health and a few other things must all come up before I check out. We expect to leave Albertville the end of January and arr. Nairobi between April 15 and May 15^th. I suspect the latter to be more accurate.

            Well folks I have enjoyed your company and letters very much indeed and I guess I will sign off until further notice. Good luck to yez and let me know how things stand. 

            Your most affectionate brother

                        Loring 

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