Not so Black as he is 
Painted. 
IN the year 1902 I took a journey down the coast 
of Africa, from Nigeria to the Congo and back. 
On the return journey we called at several places 
for cargo and passengers homeward bound. At 
Cape Lopez a man called Professor Garner came 
on board. He said he was returning home to 
America. We soon got acquainted, and I dis- 
covered that he had, amongst his luggage, an iron 
cage. This was really the most important part of 
his outfit. He told me that he used to live for days 
in the hush—inside this cage. First of all, he fixed 
it securely amongst the branches of a strong tree, 
stepped inside, locked the door, and waited until 
monkeys of all kinds came round him full of 
curiosity and chatter. In this way he claimed he 
could study their ways and learn their speech. 
Hov\^ far he succeeded he never told me, but simply 
said that he intended to put it all into a book. Shall 
I tell you how I felt ? Why, just this ! If it was 
worth while for Professor Garner to come all the 
way from the United States on an errand like that, 
it was much better worth while for the missionary 
to leave home and friends to get to" know and help 
his African brothers and sisters. When I talked 
with the professor — and he was a good talker — I 
could not forget what a greater man than he or I 
