MEN OF THE TREES 



just got under in time for the forest giant to crash down 

 across the trail behind me. I quickly pulled up and got 

 out of my car, thankful to be alive; and after saying a 

 heartfelt "Te Deum," I proceeded on my journey, only 

 to find round the next bend a still greater obstacle in 

 the shape of a larger tree, which had also fallen directly 

 across my trail. This is the only time that I was actu- 

 ally trapped between two trees, and my thankfulness 

 at having escaped alive prevented my annoyance at not 

 being able to meet my friends from England. 



In the African Tropics the hinterland is rapidly being 

 opened up and bringing prosperity through opportuni- 

 ties for the transportation of raw products to the coast. 

 Automatically, cars that prove their merit will be in 

 increasing demand, not only by the Chiefs and Headmen, 

 but by others as they prosper. The primitiveness of the 

 African's environment does not prevent his discriminat- 

 ing most wisely and when once convinced of the in- 

 tegrity and service rendered his natural conservatism 

 makes him loath to change. 



Indeed the motor car is having a civilizing influence 

 in many instances, which missionaries. Government Of- 

 ficials and others have failed to instil. It is not too much 

 to say that rapid transport is one of the finest blessings 

 which the white man has brought to the African race. 



A time is coming when every Chief and person of 

 standing in a village will expect to maintain a car as 

 a matter of course. History is repeating itself in Africa, 

 and motoring must assuredly pass through the phases 



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