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142

Monday. Dec. 20  
[[strikethrough]] May 11 [[/strikethrough]]

AM - Received letter from home dated Dec. 13th.
2 letters to [[Emily]] -

AM - Rested in bed all morning to offset a chill acquired last night - Completed Joyce Cary's 'Mister Johnson - Novel of Character - local, Nigeria. The characters drawn, the native phycology - fascinating. Mister Johnson & his Bamu - unforgettable.

Most interesting - the innate poetry of the native speech.

'England is my Country
Oh, England, my home all on de Big water,
Dat King of England is my King
De bes' man in de worl', his heart is too big,
Oh, England, my home all on de big water.'

'I say hallo. I act de fool.
I spit on de carpet of his grave, big heart.
Hi, you general dar, bring me de cole beer,
I Mister Johnson, from Fada, I belong for King's Service



133 

 Monday Dec. 20-
[[strikethrough]] May 12 [[/strikethrough]]

Hi, you judge dar, in yo crinkly wig,
Roll me out dat bed, hang me up dat royal net.'

Oh, maidens, we sought you in the corn field,
When we looked it was only the shadow of a cloud.
We saw you far off & dived into the white water,
But when we grasped you, it was only the sparkling wave.
We heard your voices in the air & sprang from the branches,
But only the bright bird flew between our hands.

'I got a lil girl, she roun like de worl'
She smoot like de water, she shine like de sky
She fat like de corn, she smell like de new grass.
She dance like de tree, she shake like de leaves.
She warm like de groun, she deep like de bush.
How doo, lil girl. Why you 'fraid for me?
I no got nuttin, no stick, no knife -