FROM TENERIFFE TO CAPE LOPEZ 
19 
in Africa. “ We bring the negroes strong drink and 
diseases which were previously unknown among them. 
Do the blessings we bring the natives really outweigh 
the evils that go with them ? ” 
Several times during meals I found myself watching 
the guests at the different tables. All had already 
worked in Africa, but with what objects ? What ideals 
had they ? So pleasant and friendly here, what sort 
of people were they away in their places of work ? 
What responsibility did they feel ? In a few days the 
three hundred of us who left Bordeaux together will 
have landed in Africa, and in a few weeks we shall be 
separated, taking up our duties on the Senegal, on the 
Niger, on the Ogowe, on the Congo and its tributaries, 
some even as far away as Lake Chad, to work in these 
different regions for three years or so. What shall we 
accomphsh ? If everything could be written down 
that is done during these years by all of us who are 
now here on this ship, what a book it would be ! Would 
there be no pages that we should be glad to turn over as 
quickly as possible ? . . . 
But the ship is carrying us on and on. Grand 
Bassam . . .. Kotonou . . . Each time there are hearty 
farewells exchanged between many who have hardly 
spoken to each other. “ Good health to you ! ” The 
words are spoken with a smile, but again and again, and 
in this climate they have a serious sound. How will 
those to whom they are spoken look when they come 
on board next ? And will they all come back ? . . . 
The windlasses and cranes begin to creak ; the boats 
are dancing on the waves ; the red roofs of the seaside 
town throw us a bright greeting from out of the mass 
of greenery ; the waves breaking on the sandy bar send 
