GABOON STORIES

160pp. Original blind embossed and gilt decorated pictorial hardcover. Illustrated. Pasted down maps to rear EP's.

Light wear to spine ends and corners. Evidence of an Ex Libris label having been detached from the front fixed EP. Remarkably good condition throughout.

'I will tell you of a visit I made to an out-station soon after I readied Gaboon. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson invited me to go with them to attend the examination of Mr. Dorseys school at Prince Glass village, two miles up the river. It was a pleasant row in the boat-along the green banks, and we soon reached the place, and climbed the steep hill to the teachers house. This is near what was formerly the OzjTunga mission station. where Mr. Griswold died in 1844. It commands a beautiful view of the river and sea. Indeed, all our stations ir Gaboon are very pleasantly situated. On entering the schoolroom we found a number of natives assembled, seeming quite interested in the examination of thirty bright little boys and girls. Mr. Dorsey was a colored American; but Mary, his wife, was a native of Cape Palmas, and had been educated in the mission. The children recited very well in the primary English studies, and then Mary examined her little girls in reading and spelling in Mpongwe, after which the whole school recited the Mpongwe Catechism in concert. At the close, Mr. Dorsey invited the visitors present to stay and take dinner. As Mary seemed to wish it very much, we stayed with the rest. We sat down at a long table, with about twenty natives, some of them chiefs. The dinner was of plantains, roasted and boiled, yams, sweet potatoes, rice, different kinds of fresh fish, besides salt beef and sea-biscuit from the mission store. Everything was nicely cooked, and we enjoyed it as much as did the natives. When we had finished eating, two little boys quietly took away the plates, and brought on coffee and roasted peanuts. It was all managed very quietly, without mistakes or confusion...'