Old Calabar 



were brought in to the Consulate. They were 

 so frightfully emaciated that one's heart bled 

 for them. The doctor attached to the station 

 put one of them into his own bed, nursing his 

 charge as though it were his own. Bless his 

 kind Irish heart ! 



In these small rows, as indeed in most rows 

 in this world, the women and children are the 

 worst sufferers, and the old adage holds good 

 " the weak go to the wall." 



When the troops had defeated Nana, and taken 

 possession of the town, they destroyed hundreds 

 of cases of trade gin, smashing the cases and 

 bottles. This spirit was not all for home con- 

 sumption, but was an article of commerce in the 

 business carried on by the chief with the tribes 

 of the interior. 



Most of the minor chiefs hereabouts wore 

 large lumps of dark-coloured coral suspended 

 on a string round their thick necks. They would 

 pay fancy prices for unusual pieces. In the 

 good old days when palm-oil fetched big money 

 the natives made comparatively big fortunes, 

 but now that the demand has decreased in 

 consequence of cheaper forms of oil being used, 

 the " palmy " days in that direction are over. 



After Nana's trial we resumed our voyage to 

 Old Calabar, which was the seat of government 

 and the residence of the Consul-General. We 

 took Nana and his small entourage along, he 



37 



