Post date: Aug 10, 2014 4:38:48 PM
9 August 1964
Yes, we have girl students. They are just like boy students, but girls... All are equivalent to our high school students, but often much older, as they go to school when the family finds the money. The girls present some special problems. The Principal has many girlfriends among the students, and they feel much more free to tell him their problems. Because of this, partly, the boys feel they can’t tell him their problems. Also the girls take cooking, and are allowed to go to town to market every four days, which means they get more to eat than the boys.
The prefects are just students, too, but with power to discipline other students. It is their responsibility to to maintain order, and it was they who failed in the riot, the last inquisition of which was held on Friday last. One was expelled for trying to incite the other students to riot, and the others just suspended plus other unmentioned, but, I am sure, severe punishment.
The students live in dormitories of about 40 boys or girls each, each with a main and two sub-prefects. In addition each class and each special room (chemistry, staff, etc) has a monitor who is responsible for cleaning chalk, collecting homework, and discipline in the classroom. When the system works, it works well, altho the officers can become corrupt.
The Principal never has much time for the school, partly because he has many outside activities, and partly because when he is here he is often too busy ‘resting' from his strenuous activities with one or more of the girl students. Makes for tension. He is never available for problems, questions, requests, discussions. For instance, my floor caved in on Thursday night, and I made it a point to interrupt him to see if I could get it fixed. He trusts no one, so he has to see it himself, but is too busy to see it himself, so now have a more or less permanent foot-square hole in my floor. Along these lines…I have never got the Principal to look at my house plans, but if and when he comes to look at the hole in the floor I have a good opportunity to corner him.
I found a book about this place called Juju and Justice in Nigeria by Frank Hives, published by Ballentine. He was a District Officer about 1904, when the Aro people still controlled most of the Eastern Region of Nigeria and were cannibals besides. Some very terrifying stories, which I can well believe. Now understand why the NCNC political party, which is dominated by Igbos would not give any amenities to the Aros, who for so many years, possibly for centuries, milked these people dry. The Aros controlled Juju, slave trade, palm oil trade, and most contact with the white men before 1910. And they haven't changed much. See if you can get that book and read it. You will have nightmares for nights, as Nancy, Mick, and I have!
Nancy talks (as a New Yorker) as if there were no hope for anything but apartheid for the Negros. I just can't believe her attitude, even tho she is trying to alleviate the situation. Sounds bad from here. I think Nancy will get a Honda 50. Indestructible—as long as you change the oil once in a while. [7 Sept] Mick (GVSO) and Nancy (PCV) are getting married in six weeks! They have been working up to this for about two months, but I didn’t think they were that crazy.
I haven’t yet fixed the Jeep, as I have no way to charge the battery. I can't drive it with no battery or generator, and I can‘t get the Jeep out without a battery, and we want to leave the thing in Enugu for much replacement.
I have fixed up my Honda with two big bags hanging below the rear seat. Each bag holds about 1 1/2 cu ft and should support 50 pounds. With a folding camp cot and mosquito net I should be able to travel anywhere. All I need now is a plastic gasoline jug holding about 2 1/2 gallons. That will give me a range of 400 miles between gas stations. Change of clothes, medical kit, some food and water, spare light bulbs, and a little money should take me anywhere. I hope Congo cools down before I leave.