428 AFRICA SPEAKS 



their hands, place everything on top of their heads, no 

 matter how small or how big. / 



Next morning I asked the local weather prophet if 

 he thought we would have a storm that day, to which 

 he rephed in pidgin English, "I find 'em, I see 'em, 

 I no look 'em," meaning, of course, that he could not 

 see any storm clouds or other indications of bad 

 weather. 



When I went to the railway station to inquire about 

 the transportation of my truck, I found the black man 

 in charge talking over the telephone in Hausa, inter- 

 spersed with English words. His conversation sounded 

 something hke this, "Oh, hello, you there? Blxonkt 

 hubnok fipnoter gullentaken, thanks much, wegoxlop 

 fomergot, call me later, cherrio!" 



In one corner of the room a black telegrapher was 

 sending and receiving messages in English, although he 

 could not read or wTite the language. These men 

 learn the code equivalent of each letter in the English 

 alphabet, being able to send and receive perfectly, 

 although the sense of the message remgdns a mystery 

 to them. 



Hausa is more or less a universal language in Nigeria, 

 but there are many other languages and dialects 

 spoken. In Bauchi Province alone more than sixty- 

 four different tongues are in use. Arabic forms the 

 base for several dialects, but the most picturesque 

 expressions are those uttered in pidgin Enghsh. The 

 native Nigerian considers sardines the finest treat 

 obtainable, while kerosene is a wonderful thing be- 

 cause it gives off hght; therefore anything excellent is 

 "good past sardines," while anything wonderful is 

 "very good, way past kerosene." 



