These Pigs Are The
Descendants Of Those Imported By The Spaniards, And Not Long Ago
Became Such An Awful Nuisance
In Clarence that the Government issued
instructions that all pigs without rings in their noses - i.e. all in
a
Condition to grub up back gardens - should be forthwith shot if
found abroad. This proclamation was issued by the governmental
bellman thus: - "I say - I say - I say - I say. Suppose pig walk - iron
no live for him nose! Gun shoot. Kill him one time. Hear re! hear
re!"
However a good many pigs with no iron living in their noses got
adrift and escaped into the interior, and have flourished like the
green bay-tree, destroying the Bubi's plantation and eating his
yams, while the Bubi retaliating kills and eats them. So it's a
drawn battle, for the Bubi enjoys the pig and the pig enjoys the
yams, which are of singular excellence in this island and celebrated
throughout the Bight. Now, I am told, the Government are firmly
discouraging the export of these yams, which used to be quite a
little branch of Fernando Po trade, in the hope that this will
induce the native to turn his attention to working in the coffee and
cacao plantations. Hope springs eternal in the human breast, for
the Bubi has shown continually since the 16th century that he takes
no interest in these things whatsoever. Now and again a man or
woman will come voluntarily and take service in Clarence, submit to
clothes, and rapidly pick up the ways of a house or store.
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