OFF TO THE BUSH 



and forests are still in possession of numerous and 

 often extensive tracts; the farms occupy clearings in 

 the jungle, many of them being bordered by a stretch 

 of forest on this side or that, whilst some are buried 

 away in the very heart of a wilderness. 



The principal cocoa stations on this line are Nsawam, 

 Mangoase, Koforidua, and Tafo, at each of which there 

 is a railway siding flanked by stores capable of housing 

 tens of thousands of bags of cocoa. 



We shall first break our journey at Nsawam, twenty- 

 three miles up the line. 



Our travelling companions in a first-class carriage 

 corridor pattern, unbroken by division into com- 

 partments are Englishmen and West African negroes. 



The Englishmen are all attired in the smart and 

 business-like costume known as " Bush kit " khaki 

 drill shorts and shirt, helmet, strong boots, and puttees. 

 One of them, as we happen to know because he is our 

 host, is an agent going to kill two birds with one stone 

 by acting as our guide and by making a tour of in- 

 spection to see how his assistants are getting on 

 examine their books, discuss prices, look into the 

 quality and quantity of cocoa they have been buying 

 the last few days, find out how the workmen are pro- 

 gressing with the bungalow that is being put up so 

 that such or such an assistant at a newly-opened 

 station may move out as quickly as possible from 

 temporary quarters into a comfortable home, make 

 a survey of prospects with a view to anticipating 

 requirements in the way of sacks, scales, and motor 

 lorries. . . . You are quite right, an agent holds a 

 much more responsible position and has a great deal 

 more work to do than most people would imagine; an 

 assistant, too, if he is to make a success of his job 



