The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-26

syndicate writes the Commercial the
following letter:
Cinnemen Bippa, Care Of Gold Coast
Agency. Ltd. West Coast of Africa,
Taskwa, Via SekOndi, March 4, 1902
Friend Mac have been in Africa
two months, so think I ought to let you
know I am still alive and we'll. I have
had very good health since 1 have been
here. So far one of the men that came
out with me was invaded home last
week; he was taken down with black
water fever within two weeks after ar
irving. This is not desirable country
for a white man to stay too long in; the
climate is very fne-not 50 warm as we
expected to find it. The hottest days
seldom exceed SO degrees and the nights
are cool. A person needs a blanket COW
ering every night. We are about six de-
grees north of the Equator, the same
distance in the West Hemisphere is d
great deal warmer. We are just getting
what they call the wet season, that is,
it rains very often for the next five or
six months We mad roasting ears Tor
dinner today. What do you think Of
that for a winter dinner2 Corn grows
fine; I saw some growing the other day
near native village that stood IA feet
high and what we got was very fine
quality, no worms in it like We have
in the states. The natives are a lazy set
of people; they do not need any clothes
to keep them warm and they live on a
fruit called Plantain, the same as a ba-
mana only it needs cooking. Sweet po-
tatOes grow wild here. 1 buy them from
the natives very often. L relish them
better than our own home grown; they
are not SO yellow nor 50 sweet as ours
Tropical fruit of all kinds grow wild
here; fine apples, bananas, as well as a
great many other kinds.
The mining industry is all there is in
the country at present and that is most
" prospecting There are several mines
working on a paying basis. English
CqDifaf Interested and doing a great
deal of work; they have not a work ami
NAL of any kind except negroes in the
country. There is a railroad building
here and it is built all by hand labor.
The natives carry their load on their
heads. I have seen large cuts and fills
on the railroad all done by natives with
baskets carried out on their heads.
have seen one or two wheel barrows on
the road supposed they were shipped
from England, but they cannot get the
natives to use them any other way than
to put what sand they can carry in the
WheelbarroW and raise it on their heads,
and carry it out instead of wheeling It.
The English say they can't get them to
use them any other way. The road is
built by the English government and I
believe the last statement shows it IS
costing $4,000 per mile through praeti-
eally a level country. We have not seen
many wild animals yet, still the woods
are full Of them. There are some very
large snakes called Cobras; the natives
XIII lneln ana COOK the OIL from them.
There is quite a trade on the coast in
palm wine. The natives draw the sap
from the tree They tell me they draw
it of at the top of the tree instead of at
! the trunk, as we do maple sap. It is a
lonesome country, as there is no place
to go to spend a day or evening except
in your own "bungaloo." We some
times get up a turkey dinner on Sunday
and have the other boys at different
/ cam ps to spend Sunday with us. There
are seven different companies who have
/ from two to six drills a work in the
colony, and all drills are worked by
Americans. 7 had one of those dinners
last Sunday and had II Americans to
visit us to help eat.
Well, I will close this letter: it is not
as much Information about the country
as I would like to give but my knowl-
/ edge OF the country is limited as yet
Give my regards to the boys in the
/ lodge, and If I can get them through
viii bring them a few Madura. cigars
I when I get back With kind wishes to
you and yours, remain your friend,
c. D. SELLERS.
F p. 81 received a bunch of CONNER
( Gals last week and you can't imagine
! how anxious the boys were to get an
( American paper. Could not wait until
+ one would read it. but two would get at
/ one paper together and it was a great
I welcome. c. D. S.