A Liberian Journey

Creator

Richard Pearson Strong

Date

10/29/26

Coverage

Bashman Town, Sinoe County, Liberia

Transcription

October 29th, Friday.

Well, here we are in Sino, and back to the coast, having reached here on scheduled time, October 28th. “Of course,” you may say, “for it had to be done, God being willing.” But “God helps those who help themselves” and overcome obstacles in their way. There were plenty of these in the way of our reaching here on the 28th. The night of the 26th at Bashmans town was a noisy one. Several hundred natives (“Kulu” people) had come into town; the drums began to beat shortly after eight o’clock and the people soon began chanting and shouting, and by about eleven we had a howling mob of savages around us not more than 20 yards away. I think that I have never heard more noise made by humans and drums beaten so furiously. By one o’clock (A. M.), since we had a hard day’s march before us, several of our men were sent with guns to put a stop to it and disperse the people.

The next morning there was considerable difficulty in getting the necessary porters and we were not able to get them off until eight, though we had prepared everything to leave at six. The trail for about five hours led southeat or southwest through high forest. Emerging from the forest, we reached the town of Kane and subsequently passed through Wenga, Yah, Gyoe, and Pine, and reached Pibo town at five-thirty. Here we spent the night. We had been told that Pibo was far too far to go in one day and discouraged in every way from trying to reach it, but in spite of much trouble with the porters we were able to accomplish it.

On the promise of the headmen of the Kulu people that they would give no trouble on the next day, we fed them rice. However, the next morning when it was time to start, over half tried to run away and had to be prevented and made to go on. We had difficulty with them all day. We left Pibo at 7:10. Mr. Smith, the Government official, assisting us somewhat in starting and collecting our porters. Our road led again through high forest for four hours and a half and then through lower bush, the trail still going south. We reached the town of Little Butu at noon and Grand Butu an hour later; the trail then led easterly by south. We passed through a number of other small villages and finally, as we came out of the last of the high forest into open grassland country, could hear the sound of the ocean. From eleven-thirty throughout the day we had at intervals very severe tropical showers and in the intervals between the heavy showers a lighter rain. So that we were wet to the skin from eleven-thirty until the time of our arrival here at four-ten. We did not stop for any luncheon but ate several bananas while we marched. Keeping the porters in order kept us busy all the way; otherwise we would never have reached here when we did after nine hours of walking. The men insisted on stopping at Grand Butu (about half way) for the night, but of course they were not allowed to do this, as our agreement with them was to carry through for an extra day’s pay.

Type

Diary

Citation