A Liberian Journey

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

9/5/26

Coverage

Gbanga, Hinterland, Liberia

Transcription

September 5th.

We are located on the top of a hill, open country on all sides with low scrub or a few rice fields, forest only on one side to the north for a narrow strip. We are in the largest communal hall we have yet occupied, some 65 feet long by about 50 broad. It is located in the government compound where the government official in charge of the district resides when he is here. There are seven other smaller huts in the compound, one of which we use as a cookhouse and for our personal servants. The wind and rain sweep through our hall, so we have hung up some tent flies to keep the rain out. There are two chiefs in the town, which is divided into a second smaller section. In the section a tall Mandingo presides. He owns two horses and has a tall Arab looking chief wife. He has come over from the French border and taken the Liberian oath. The French border (French Guinea) is said to be one day’s march to the north from here. The second “Paramount Chief” is the Mpesses one. He wears some twenty silver bracelets on his wrist and thirty or forty silver rings, and is a true savage. Both of them came to call and made presents to me of chickens, ducks, peanuts and bananas. I have given them in return considerable tobacco.

Loring Whitman has arrived and I have had news of George Shattuck, who is at Suah Coco with the other men. All are well. They will travel on Monday and reach here that day, September 6th.

Type

Diary

Citation