The Sherbro and its hinterland . resents. Many smallpeace-offerings were also made to me, which invariablytook the form of Kola nuts, the customary emblem offriendship. Beyond Juru the country became much more moun-tainous, and travelling was very exhausting, as I had todo, nolens volens, much of the journey on foot under ablazing sun. The place I was next making for wasMendikama in the upper Gaura, twelve miles from route we passed through several towns of lesser import-ance, and at Magbama I managed to secure a couple ofgood eggs. Eggs are always very scarce—because nativepeople do n
The Sherbro and its hinterland . resents. Many smallpeace-offerings were also made to me, which invariablytook the form of Kola nuts, the customary emblem offriendship. Beyond Juru the country became much more moun-tainous, and travelling was very exhausting, as I had todo, nolens volens, much of the journey on foot under ablazing sun. The place I was next making for wasMendikama in the upper Gaura, twelve miles from route we passed through several towns of lesser import-ance, and at Magbama I managed to secure a couple ofgood eggs. Eggs are always very scarce—because nativepeople do not eat them, they seem only to use them forhatching purposes. I believe that there is some fetishobjection to their using them as food ; so that usuallywhen I wanted eggs they were taken from under a sittinghen, or else they had been kept so long as to be useless ; Itherefore regarded this acquisition in the light of a god-send. They were immediately cooked, and together witha biscuit and some tea from my water-bottle, made my. Fig. 57.—Mammy Leubu,The Queen of Upper Gaura, Mendi. [/ i fa cc />? zge 181. XIX THROUGH THE HINTERLAND i8i breakfast. Surrounded by at least a hundred of theastonished town-folk, composed principally of the gentlersex, I discussed the meal with a satisfaction and keennessthat would have been worthy of a more sumptuous repast ;thankful, moreover, that in the midst of my semi-barbaricsurroundings I still had an appetite, and for the momentat all events the means of appeasing it. My boys, too,had not been idle, for the courtesy of the town-peoplehad been extended towards them ; rice and bananas hadbeen provided for them, putting them all into a goodhumour and enabling them to continue their tediousmarch refreshed and contented ; for as one of themtripping by me with his load on his head, jocosely said : Empty bag no able for tand up ; but that time he full,he better, from which practical, though not too elegant,remark I gathered that a most liberal
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