File:From the Niger to the Nile (1907) (14726762846).jpg

Identifier: cu31924088413269 (find matches)
Title: From the Niger to the Nile
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Alexander, Boyd, 1873-1910 Talbot, Percy Amaury, 1877-1945
Subjects: Alexander-Gosling Expedition Birds
Publisher: London, E. Arnold
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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e tribe could buy fowls and eggs and largequantities of food, perhaps among a neighbouring peoplewould hardly buy anything at all. But the things whichwere in demand equally throughout all peoples we cameacross were looking-glasses, a fact which spoke plainlyof the one weakness that is universal with mankind. Later on, as our trade goods began to run low, we treasuredup all our old tins and bottles, which we discovered hadquite a wonderful trade value, and then we realised thatour boys * had for a long time been making enormousprofits out of them. And it was some little time before wecould break them of the habit of causing them to disappear,and a law had to be passed making it criminal for them topick up old bottles or tins, which had almost been thrownat their heads a short time before ! It must be borne in mind that a matter needing consider- * A term applied to all native servants of the white man. It has even beenborrowed by the French, who have coined the word boyesse for women.
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INTRODUCTION 11 able foretliouglit in the arrangement of the Expedition wasthe organisation of the transport according to the resourcesof the countries traversed. Thus, in Nigeria we had tobe prepared to raise a supply of carriers, often to bebrought from distant centres; and in Bornu reliancewas placed entirely on oxen, sometimes supplementedby donkeys ; for the Kanuri, who are the chief people ofthe province, are too proud to bear the white mans loads,and the Shuas cannot be induced to leave their flocks andherds. On the River Benue native canoes were requi-sitioned. Then, after crossing Lake Chad, our boats hadto be depended upon for everything, with the addition ofKotoko canoes to carry the commissariat. While on the subject of transport it may not be out ofplace to say a Uttle about the carriers. We are exceptionallyfortunate in this respect in our West African possessions, forthe Hausa, Nupe, Wongara and pagan Fulani are almost bredand born to the load and, having the instinct f

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