Travels in West Africa

...throw obstacles in the way of anyone visiting their territories, so I simply want to state that this was definitely not my experience; although my complete lack of knowledge of French prevented me from explaining my modest intentions to them.

The Reverend Dr. Nassau and Mr. R. E. Dennett have enabled me, by sharing their deep wealth of knowledge regarding native life and thought, to expand upon any conclusions drawn from my own observations. I have not included Mr. Dennett's work in this book because it refers to tribes I did not visit during this journey, but rather to a tribe I became acquainted with during my 1893 voyage—the Fjort. I have, however, referred to Dr. Nassau's observations. I am indebted to Herr von Lucke, the Vice-governor of Cameroon, for not only allowing me but for assisting me by every means in his power to climb Mount Cameroon referred to as "Cameroons Peak" in the original text. I am also grateful to the Governor of Cameroon, Herr von Puttkamer, for his constant help and kindness. Indeed, the willingness of all these gentlemen to help me was so great that it is a wonder to me, when I think about it, that their efforts did not launch me right across the continent and out at Zanzibar. That this impressive feat did not happen is due to my own lack of ambition; for I did not want to cross the continent, and I do not crave Zanzibar. I only wish to go messing about in obscure districts in West Africa in search of traditional fetish: local religious objects or charms believed to have supernatural powers and fresh-water fish.

I owe my ability to have benefited from the kindness of these gentlemen on land to a man of the sea—Captain Murray. He was the captain of the vessel I sailed on in 1893, and he saw then that my mind was full of misconceptions that had to be corrected if I was going to deal with the West Coast successfully. Therefore, he corrected those errors and replaced them with sound knowledge from his own experiences, collected during an acquaintance with the West Coast of over thirty years. The education he has given me has been of the greatest value to me, and I sincerely hope to make many more voyages under his command, for I well know he still has much to teach and I have much to learn.

Last, but not least, I must record my gratitude to the ladies. First, to those two courteous Portuguese ladies, Donna Anna de Sousa Coutinho e Chichorro and her sister Donna Maria...