Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-28

DISTINGUISHED traveller. who Is lhe only
survivor of the MISUNDERSTANDING eN-
pedition. has been district COMMISSION ,
err of Oban. between the cross river
and the German Cameroons lof the
greater part Of the time since i'o''
and durino Ihat time he and his wife
have made many expeditions ihto
hitherto unexplored territory in search
Of rare flowers and plants, Illey
brought back for the natural history |
museum at South =kensington ana the
uerbarium at Kew hundreds ot spccl-
mems about $50 of which were new To
science. Not few have been chris
tened "Talbctf' or Dcrother aller
Mrs. Talbot.
In Mrs Talbot's possession are hi't!iS
little red leather books in when Sile
iotted down data concerning SHe Va"
rious flowers as they were dlscoNered
and made snapshot Impressions .,
their coloring Nearly 1000 heaulliu.
drawings are the result many VI
which are shortly to be pubhsheu a.
tbn. wish of the former governor 9lt ,
Walter Egerton. -,
In the course of an interview MIS-,
Talbot gave Il London Daily News ana
Leader represent tillN I fS'iiiNf
fine flower hunting expeditions on
which she and her sister accompanied
her husband and of the marvellous
Ekoi people whom he found III the
heart ~ southern Nigeria.
when | came back to England
said ars Talbot, the oak ana elm
seemed to me mere walking sticks IN
comparison with the gigantic trees l
lad left behind. Many grow at the
rate of over a foot a month. ana
reach a hight OF between 200 and 3oo
feet. The flowers upon them simply
besgqr description and We are often
made aware of hidden flowers by their
enchanting perfume. Nature manlfests
herself in the most curious WAYS there
Fer instance on some OF the trees
flowers grow all over the bark exactly
as if a child had nailed them on.
Sometimes a latticcWork of creepers
brushes out Of existence the tree up
which thex climb. The cotton tree.
which is sometimes s. feet in girth, is
an unforgetable sight when it is en-
,frely covered with cherry -eolored
blossoms Bet | think il is even more
beautiful stu when the pods open
ana the cotton falls like Snow and
lies in Il big snowdlift beneath the
trees.
"Travelers in southern Nigeria must
beware of the &gara tree. It's fruit is
of the size and consistency of cannon
balls. and ii one of these balls drops
on the head of 2 passer-by a tragedy
may lie the result. y flower of sufpass-
ing beauty is the crateranthus-cup-
4 sih
bed all around with cream, pink and
deep rose red shades The members
cf learned society," sald Mrs Tai
bot. with . smile held up their
hands IN horror When | told them
had used these flowers as bonbon
dishes for my dinner table. They were
absolutely charming for this purpose
Tier expedition parties, Mrs Talbot
said usually consisted Of head cut
ter. with two assistants-these cut
away the thick foliage and brush"ood |
which makes the country imrenetra- I
tle--two mea with boxes for her |
plants. 20 or more carriers. according
to ire length of the expedition, and I
two OF three policemen. You may |
wonder now we manage 10 reach the |
flowers when the trees are 50 hiSh.
said Mrs. Talbot. We have various
methods. Sometimes my husband /.
shoots them with his gun and some
times. | am sorry to say, We do not |
hesitate to chopy whole tree down for
the sake of it's blossoms. OFTEN two
or three other trees fall with it, So |
closely do they grow together This !,
sounds very destructive, but in a coun- |
/, il is. ?
net "a tad as it seems. The natives |
Occasionally telp lis by climbing like 7,
monkeys no the crecpers tat depend |
nom most of the tres. Fot thi., service |,
they ALWAYS get d present of one or
two heads OF tobacco. each lcat of
which is equivalent 20 4 penny. To- i,
baccO leaves are used for small money |
transactions and cloth for large ones. |
Curinusly enough. they won't look
at Victorian coins Of the later period |
'Th2; no good they will say, shaking
their heads. Yet they will accept with
joy the mid-Nictorian coins.
The lalor Of English suifragets palcs |
before the dominating Ekoi women
who are complete mistresses of the ,
situation. The men are simply their
servants. MANY OF the local legends
apd the Ekois are marvellous story |
tellers. end in almost precisely the
same way" said Mrs. Talbot. namely |
that though woman is married to |
her husband she does not belong 10 |
him, but he to her. and she has a !
right to ask from hun any service she |
may choose"
The prospective bridegroom in t.koi
Land has lpr al