56 COCOA 



concrete drying grounds for this purpose in the com- 

 pounds. 



For transport, the beans are packed into large 

 sacks, or, as they are commonly called, " bags." Each 

 filled bag is dumped on to platform scales by darkie 

 yard-boys. When the scales register a certain exact 

 weight usually 140 Ibs. the bag is hauled off the 

 platform and passed on to another gang of darkies, 

 whose business it is to sew up the mouth. The bags 

 are next stacked in the factory's store, flanking the 

 railway siding. 



From the up-country stores, the bags of cocoa beans 

 go by train to Accra. Here, the Agent of the European 

 firm to whom they belong must arrange to meet them 

 with motor lorries and be able to give them storage 

 accommodation until such time as there is room for 

 them on a steamer going to the land of their destina- 

 tion. When the Agent is advised that such a steamer 

 is due in the Accra roads, the cocoa bags are taken by 

 motor lorry from store to beach, where they are stacked 

 up so that no time may be lost in getting them aboard. 

 When a steamer is expected in, homeward bound for 

 England, France or America, the beach at Accra is 

 suggestive of a cross between Brooklands on a race day 

 and Yarmouth sands on August Bank Holiday, except, 

 of course, that everyone in the crowd is hard at work 

 instead of hard at play. When the steamer drops 

 anchor, the scene is still more animated, for every 

 bag of cocoa has to be carried down to the water's 

 edge and taken in a surf boat to the ship. 



