418 AFRICA SPEAKS 



Guinea-fowl eggs were on sale forty for a shilling, 

 while the lowly potato was almost worth its weight in 

 gold. Native viands seemed cheap enough and there 

 was a great variety. Many of the Hausamen and 

 Fulani are quite wealthy and these buy European 

 food, even purchasing regulated amounts of wine and 

 other liquors. 



The few white women in Jos occasionally visit this 

 market, where it is more than likely they will meet a 

 group of primitive Pagans from the country, neither 

 man nor woman of which will be wearing a stitch of 

 clothing. These naked people, who are found through- 

 out the plateau region, conduct themselves in such 

 manner that no one has ever insisted upon their wear- 

 ing clothing. 



We found that the gum and tobacco addicts of civi- 

 lization were running a poor second to the marathon 

 masticators of Nigeria. The chewing of kola nuts is 

 a universal habit here, men, women, and children 

 spending their pennies for this fruit which is offered 

 for sale on every hand. The effect of this constant 

 facial exercise is seemingly harmless, although as a 

 spectacle it is no prettier than that afforded by rows 

 of gum and tobacco chewers in the subway train. 

 The kola nut stains the mouth and teeth a deep red, 

 thus destroying the principal beauty of the black man — 

 his double row of gleaming white ivories. For many 

 decades the kola nut has kept the jaws of the native 

 Nigerian busy. It is his favorite indoor and outdoor 

 sport. 



The roadside beauty parlors indicated progress. 

 Beneath a shady tree, with a group of children watch- 

 ing proceedings, the operator could be seen fixing her 



