NOTES 287 



Zoological Congress 



The Seventh International Zoological Congress met for the first 

 time in America at the Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., 

 August iy to 23, 1907. Over five hundred men of science attended 

 the Congress, of whom about one-quarter were from abroad. The 

 Smithsonian Institution was represented by Dr. Richard Rathbun, 

 Dr. Theodore Gill, and Dr. W. H. Dall; the National Museum by 

 Dr. F. YV. True, Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, and Dr. H. G. Dyar, and 

 the National Zoological Park by Dr. Frank Baker. The program 

 included over 300 papers, read before the several sections. 



After the official session in Boston, the members devoted about ten 

 days to visiting the principal biological experimental stations, mu- 

 seums, and universities in the Eastern States, completing their 

 itinerary by a visit to Washington, where they spent several days 

 examining the various public and scientific institutions. 



Journey into the Interior of Liberia 



The Smithsonian Institution has received from the Department of 

 State copies of two dispatches from Mr. Ernest Eyon, minister resi- 

 dent of the United States at Monrovia, dated March 2 and 5, 1907, 

 giving an account of a journey by him to the interior of Liberia. 



He describes the Cavalla as "a beautiful and picturesque stream, 

 with a powerful current sweeping toward the ocean. * * * The 

 country on either side of the river is hilly and covered with immense 

 forests of very valuable timber. Native farms attest the fertility of 

 the soil. This river forms the boundary between Liberia and French 

 territory, and there is no reason," says Mr. Lyon, "why it should not 

 be one of the most important waterways on the west coast of Africa." 



From Nyanka Mr. Lyon continued his journey, with a caravan of 

 30 men, northwest, via the Kelipo Mountains, to Gedibo; thence 

 "northwest through the forest to Pahn, and through Pahn to Grabo 

 about 135 miles to Nyanka. * * * Ten days were consumed on 

 the march from Nyanka to Gedibo, walking every step of the 

 journey, on an average of 8 hours a day, passing through the ter- 

 ritory of four different tribes, each with its own tribal dialect, 

 though ethnically they all belong to a common stock, the Grebo, and 

 a knowledge of this tongue is the key to all." The four tribes in 

 about 100 towns aggregate 86,000 population. The men are de- 

 scribed as unusually large, powerful, and well built. Many of the 

 men speak English, acquired on their trading journeys to the coast, 

 but they are careful not to impart this language to the women, lest 

 they become too wise and ungovernable. 



Mr. Lyon describes some of the principal towns visited and com- 

 ments on the pursuits, manners, and customs of the people. 



