TO
MY DEVOTED COMPANION
WHO HAS SO PATIENTLY BORNE THE HARDSHIPS
OF TRAVEL AND THE LONG STRAIN OF OUR
LABOURS FOR THE NATIVE RACES
THESE PAGES ARE
DEDICATED

CONTENTS

PAGE
Introduction by the Earl of Cromer[v]
Author’s Preface[xxiii]
Foreword[xxxiii]
[PART I]
I.The African “Porter”[3]
II.The Paddler and his Canoe[10]
III.The African Forest[17]
IV.A Medley of Customs[23]
(a) Cicatrization[26]
(b) Personal Adornment[31]
(c) The Angel of Death[36]
(d) Peace and Arbitration[40]
V.The Native as a Money Maker[45]
VI.The African Woman[52]
[PART II]
CIVILIZATION AND THE AFRICAN
I.The White Man’s Burden[75]
II.Lightening the White Man’s Burden[81]
III.Governments and Commerce[87]
IV.The Liquor Traffic[98]
V.The Educated Native[106]
VI.Justice and the African[116]
VII.Race Prejudice[122]
[PART III]
I.Labour—Supply and Demand[131]
II.Land and its Relation to Labour[157]
III.Portuguese Slavery[168]
IV.The Future of Belgian Congo[203]
[PART IV]
MORAL AND MATERIAL PROGRESS
I.The Products of the Oil Palm[225]
II.The Production of Rubber[235]
III.The Production of Cocoa[246]
IV.The Progress of Christian Missions[265]
[PART V]
I.The Map of Africa re-arranged[293]
Index[305]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Mushamalengi, “A Royal Prince” of the Bakuba Kingdom in the Upper Kasai[Frontispiece]
FACING PAGE
A Light-hearted Carrier[4]
The Canoe Singer[4]
The Vines of the Tropical Forest[8]
Mrs. Harris Canoeing on the Aruwimi, Upper Congo[12]
A Rickety Dug-Out[12]
Wild Forest Fruit[18]
The “Elephant Ear” in the Wet Season[20]
Wild Forest Fruit[20]
The “Healing” Fetish[24]
The Baketi Memorial Ground. Trees uprooted and planted branches downwards in Memory of the Dead[24]
The Swastika Cicatrice[26]
The Oyster Shell Cicatrice[26]
Cicatriced Women of Equatorville[28]
The Bangalla “Rasp” Cicatrice[28]
Bangalla Chief with Head tightly bound from birth[32]
Bangalla Babe with Head tightly bound[32]
A Five-Foot Beard[34]
Styles of Aruwimi Head-Dress[34]
The Witch[38]
Slave Graveyard on the Island of San Thomé[38]
The Witch Doctor with his Charms for Every Ill[40]
A Native Planter in his Funtumia Plantation, Southern Nigeria[50]
Rubber Collectors, Kasai River, Upper Congo[50]
Women Pounding Oil Palm Nuts[54]
Grinding Corn on the Kasai, Upper Congo[56]
A Christian Couple returning from the Gardens towards Sunset[58]
Weaving Cloth in the Kasai, Upper Congo[58]
“Twin Pots” hoisted on Forked Sticks either side of Pathway in honour of newly born Twins, Bangalla, Congo[70]
Wild Flowers growing on Trunk of Forest Tree[78]
“The Story the Graveyards Tell”[78]
Cataract Region below Stanley Pool, Belgian Congo[94]
Dr. Sapara of Lagos, a Medical Man in the Service of the British Government[110]
Cocoa Farm, Belgian Congo[134]
A Congo Chief with some of his Wives and “Basamba” Concubines[144]
A Hunter’s “Lucky” Fetish[146]
Prince Eleko and Council, Southern Nigeria[168]
Land Formation, Loanda, Portuguese Angola[170]
Chancel and North Wall of disused Dutch Church, Loanda ([see page 171])[172]
Cocoa Carrying, Belgian Congo[174]
Entrance to Cocoa Roça, Principe Island (Portuguese)[174]
Slaves on San Thomé[180]
Disused Slave Compound in rear of House, Catumbella[180]
Slaves on Cocoa Roça, Principe Island[184]
The End of the Slave. Two Slaves carrying Dead Comrade in Sack to Burial[184]
Gum Copal for Sale, Upper Congo[214]
Government Ivory and Rubber, Upper Congo[214]
An Avenue of Oil Palms: Ten Years’ Growth[226]
“Walking” up to Gather Fruit. Weaver Birds’ Nests on the Palm Fronds[230]
Heads of Oil Palm Fruit[230]
The Oil Palm in the Grip of Its Parasitic Enemy:—
The Creeper at an Early Stage[232]
Root and Branch in Deadly Grip[232]
Fine Heads of Oil Palm Fruit[234]
Carrying Rubber Vines to Village[240]
Extracting Rubber, Kasai River, Upper Congo[240]
Cocoa on San Thomé. Termite Track visible on the Trunk of Tree[246]
Cocoa Drying in Sun[256]
The Crucifix in African Fetish Hut on the Island of San Thomé[272]
Ruin of once imposing Church on the Island of Principe[272]
Interior of Missionaries’ House. Basel Industrial Mission Furniture made by Gold Coast Industrial Scholars[284]
Map of Central and South African Colonies with “Mother Countries” Drawn To Same Scale[at end of text]

FOREWORD
WEST AFRICA