98 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



Both sexes had the same lack of apparel as those 

 from whom we had just come, and in the case of 

 the women this was even more marked, for they had 

 not even an ornamental fringe. They were really 

 hideous to look at, for they wore lip -discs and some 

 had shaved their heads. It was only three months 

 since white men had first invaded the quiet of 

 their country, having come to arrange for the 

 transport of goods from Pogo to the Logone river. 

 Carriers were needed, and, by Government regulation, 

 had to be paid in money at the rate of one shilling 

 a-day. The work was uncongenial, and the Banana 

 found no reward in the possession of coins for which 

 they had no use. At first they melted the metal 

 down to ornament their pipe - stems. There their 

 wants ended, and they would have refused to do any 

 work had not the Compagnie de Ouhame et Nana 

 stepped forward, and, by opening a store on the river- 

 side, enabled the carriers to exchange their pay for 

 large blue and white beads, which they value above 

 everything. It was to this store that we now pro- 

 ceeded, and the route we had to traverse was so 

 swampy that Mr Talbot soon had to dismount from 

 his strong, sure - footed little Lakka pony and wade 

 most of the way. Hammocks were provided for Mrs 

 Talbot and me, and the Banana bearers took great care 

 of us. Seven times one or other of my men slipped 

 and fell in the muddy bottom, but never once forgot 

 to stretch his arms at full length above his head that 

 I might be held out of the water — and, if his fall were 

 too complete, he let go altogether while the other three 

 sustained me. They were always cheerful, and came 

 up from each dip with a laugh, though as three hours 



