supplies.

In connection with Rhodesian farming and cattle-raising is a situation
well worthy of emphasis. There is no labour problem. You find, for
example, that miracle of miracles which is embodied in a native at work.
It is in sharp contrast with South Africa and the Congo, where, with
millions of coloured people it is almost impossible to get help. The
Rhodesian black still remains outside the leisure class. Whether it is
due to his fear of the whites or otherwise, he is an active member of
the productive order.

The native will work for the white man but, save to raise enough maize
for himself, he will not become an agriculturist. I heard a typical
story about Lewaniki, Chief of the Barotses, who once ruled a large part
of what is now Northern Rhodesia. Someone asked him to get his people to
raise cotton. His answer was:

"What is the use? They cannot eat it."

In Africa the native's world never extends beyond his stomach. I was
soon to find costly evidence of this in the Congo.

The African native is quite a character. He is not only a born actor but
has a quaint humor. In the center of the main street at Bulawayo is a
bronze statue of Cecil Rhodes, bareheaded, and with his face turned
toward the North. Just as soon as it was unveiled the Matabeles
expressed considerable astonishment over it. They could not understand
why the figure never moved. Shortly afterwards a great drought came. A
native chief went to see the Resident Commissioner and solemnly told him
that he was quite certain that there would be no rain "until they put a
hat on Mr. Rhodes' head."

The Lewaniki anecdote reminds me of an admirable epigram that was
produced in Rhodesia. Out there food is commonly known as "skoff," just
as "chop" is the equivalent in the Congo. A former Resident
Commissioner, noted for the keenness of his wit, once asked a travelling
missionary to dine with him. After the meal the guest insisted upon
holding a religious service at the table. In speaking of the performance
the Commissioner said: "My guest came to 'skoff' and remained to pray."

Whenever you visit a new land you almost invariably discover mental
alertness and progressiveness that often put the older civilizations to
shame. Let me illustrate. Go to England or France today and you touch
the really tragic aftermath of the war. You see thousands of demobilized
officers and men vainly searching for work. Many are reduced to the
extremity of begging. It has