ON THE EDGE OF THE
PRIMEVAL FOREST

Experiences and Observations of
a Doctor in Equatorial Africa

by
ALBERT SCHWEITZER

D.THEOL., D.PHIL., D.MED.(STRASBOURG)
AUTHOR OF "THE QUEST OF THE HISTORICAL JESUS,"
"THE PHILOSOPHY OF CIVILIZATION," ETC.

TRANSLATED BY C. T. CAMPION
M.A., ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD

TENTH IMPRESSION
WITH 14 PLATES FROM PHOTOGRAPHS

ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK
4, 5, & 6 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.1

DEDICATION

To the friends, dead and living,
who have helped me in the enterprise
of which this book is a part,
in deepest gratitude

MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN
FIRST PUBLISHED JANUARY 19TH, 1922
REPRINTED 1922, 1923, 1924,
1926, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1934, and 1937

CONTENTS

CHAP.

I. HOW I CAME TO BE A DOCTOR IN THE FOREST.
    THE LAND AND PEOPLE OF THE OGOWE

II. THE JOURNEY

III. FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND EXPERIENCES

IV. JULY, 1913—JANUARY, 1914

V. JANUARY TO JUNE, 1914

VI. LUMBERMEN AND RAFTSMEN IN THE PRIMEVAL FOREST

VII. SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE FOREST

VIII. CHRISTMAS, 1914

IX. CHRISTMAS, 1915

X. THE MISSION

XI. CONCLUSION

INDEX

NOTE

With regard to the English Edition of this book I owe a debt of thanks to two friends. Mr. C. T. Campion, M.A., had the goodness to prepare and to put at my disposal his very excellent translation, and Mr. John Naish of Oxford, was kind enough to revise the proofs and to undertake the final corrections.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

LUMBERMEN AND TIMBER-RAFTS AT THE MOUTH
    OF THE OGOWE . . . . . . Frontispiece

A RIVER STEAMER ON THE OGOWE

MY LITTLE BUNGALOW (DISTANT VIEW)

MY LITTLE BUNGALOW (NEAR VIEW)

THE HOSPITAL AT LAMBARENE

JOSEPH, THE HOSPITAL ASSISTANT, BANDAGING
    SORES IN FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL

NEGRO CHILD WITH ABDOMINAL DROPSY

PAHOUIN BOYS FROM LAMBARENE

STUMP OF A MAHOGANY TREE

RAFT OF OKOUME WOOD AND MAHOGANY BEING
    FLOATED DOWN THE OGOWE RIVER

PREMISES OF A TIMBER MERCHANT AT LAMBARENE

A LITTLE PLANTATION OF BANANAS ON THE MARGIN
    OF THE UNTOUCHED FOREST

NEGRO VILLAGE AT LAMBARENE

ON THE BANK OF THE OGOWE RIVER

A MISSIONARY'S BUNGALOW AT LAMBARENE

THE BOYS' SCHOOL AT LAMBARENE

Note.—I am indebted for a large part of the photographs to the kindness of a grateful patient. Illustrations Nos. 5 and 6 are based on a slide made by Mr. Ottmann. For illustration No. 3 I have to thank Mr. Pelot, and for Nos. 4 and 15 Mr. Morel.

SKETCH MAP OF THE LOWER COURSE OF THE OGOWE.
(Based on a map by the Rev. Mr. Haug.)