MORE AFRICAN FRIENDS OF THE FOREST 



Belo, but tell me, what is your trouble?" Again Belo ex- 

 claimed, "Please, sar, I have a complaint. You see, I be 

 soldier man, I be good soldier man, and you now say 

 'No kill men,' that is why I have a complaint." In fact, 

 that very morning news had arrived that the Armistice 

 had been signed. 



When engaged in demarcating a new Forest Reserve 

 near the banks of the Niger, I heard of a mysterious lake 

 which was cut off from the surrounding country by a 

 circular swamp extending, in the narrowest part, a dis- 

 tance of approximately two miles. This mysterious piece 

 of water I learned was the centre of an ancient tradition. 

 When the people of Agenebodie were fleeing before their 

 Fulani invaders from the North they took refuge on 

 the banks of this lake, skilfully crossing the swamp on 

 bamboos cut from palms, in the very same manner that 

 I had to employ in order to reach the lake. The last 

 man to leave the firm ground collected the bamboos and 

 passed them along to the next, so that by the time all 

 the inhabitants of the village had passed over the swamp, 

 there was no bridge left behind on which their pursuers 

 could cross. The enemy, not knowing the dangers of 

 the bottomless swamp, rushed in and were sucked under. 

 In this way, they all disappeared. This is the tradition, 

 and it is a historical fact that the people of Agenebodie 

 were never conquered by the Fulani. 



The lake upon whose banks these refugees from 

 Agenebodie found safety, contained a crocodile, which 

 they worshipped and to whom they brought offerings. 



207 



