Up the Ogun 
the heels of their master as he goes out every 
morning to the farm. Each one has a name but 
does not respond except when the name is called 
by its owner. 
One of the most remarkable farm products is 
a species of large calabash. These grow so large 
that they are used as ferry boats in all the country 
beyond Abeokuta. One never sees a canoe after 
passing that town, going into the interior. When 
the streams are made impassable by the rains, 
travellers are carried over them in these large 
calabashes, the passenger taking his seat in one 
while the ferryman swims behind and pushes 
him across. These calabash men affect to de¬ 
spise canoemen and the name “agayen” (canoe- 
man) is used as a term of reproach among 
them. So easy is it to have fictitious standards 
of honor! 
The women are even more industrious than the 
men. They have to support themselves and their 
children and they most diligently follow the pur¬ 
suits which custom has allotted to them. They 
spin, weave, trade, cook, and dye cotton fabrics. 
They also make soap, dyes, palm-oil, nut-oil, all 
the native earthenware and many other things 
used in the country. They can be found spin¬ 
ning by the light of their little bowl-lamps until 
23 
