I08 JOURNEY WITHOUT MAPS

wanted to deliver my letter to Chief Nimley, and so
I planned to walk down to Sinoe and Nana Kru, first
striking along the northern border to Ganta, where
an American medical missionary, Dr. Harley, might
be expected to know something of the route. Nobody
in Bolahun had been so far as Ganta, but the German
doctor at the hospital had been to Zigita, and there
one might expect to get more information. The
fathers with a saintly trust in human nature cashed
my cheque for ^40 in small silver on a trading firm
in Monrovia and sold me two hammocks which
could be carried by two men apiece. With these
light hammocks I hoped to economise in men and
time.

The first stop, so at first it was decided, was to be
Pandemai, and I sent off two carriers ahead to warn
the chief, but as we talked at tea, the distance to
Pandemai seemed to increase while the kindness one
might look for from the chief in Kpangblamai
became more desirable. The truth was, I couldn't
help being a little scared. I wanted to break the
strangeness and wildness gently.

Mark I had decided to add to .the company as
interpreter, jester and gossip. I hadn't been able to
resist the letter he thrust on me one day over the
verandah.

Sir In honour to ask you that I am willingly to go
with you down Monrovia please kindly I beg you.
Because you love me so dearly I don't want you
must live me here again, and More over I am too
little to take a load. I will be assisting the hammock
till we reach. Me and the headman. Please sir