R.C.M.,
Sacred Heart
Hospital,
Obudu,
Ogoja
Province,
Nigeria,
B.W.A.
1st May, 1954
Commandant & Mrs S. Hayes,
6 Calderwood Road,
Drumcondra,
Dublin,
Ireland.
My dear Comdt. & Mrs Hayes,
I hope you & Thérese are
well. Many thanks for the letter I got
ages ago (in answer to mine, so it’s your turn again!) & the John D. news cutting about waiting rooms – it was good, wasn't it? I expect they've told you I've reached my destination at last & am settled in Obudu – literally settled because there's no car here so we can't get out! It's miles from anywhere & very bush! The hospital is just getting the finishing touches now & is a very fine edifice as the African's would put it, they could never use a simple word if they know a bigger one, that is those who can speak even the smallest amount of English. This morning the workmen were asking me where to put the windows in the lab. (they had forgotten a lab – none on the govt. plan) so we're having one added on – I said “put it here for middle” he said “Oh 'make we put him here for centre”
with the emphasis on centre & dropped with English accent!
The other day 3 teachers came to ask me to be chairman of their newly organised “Obudu Literary Society” which I declined first & then 'refused' as they were most insistent. I heard their first debate was “Is modern civilisation a curse?”!! People who have the slightest scraps of education here think they're the bee’s knees & lord it over everyone else. The real “Bush” people are much nicer. The others are all on this independence movement to self-government in 1956, & according to those who have been out here a long time, their attitude towards Europeans is very much changed & it is not safe for the Fathers even to have any argument with them. One of the Holy Ghost Fathers who came out on the boat with me has now gone home again with severe injuries to his hand & arm from a machette (long hunting knife out here) attack by one of his teachers. It is thought that he will lose a few fingers of his left hand. The teacher said he was sorry he did not kill him & if he returns he will finish off the job & there are a few other instances of threats or fist striking. Europeans are liable to a fine of £5 for striking an African.
The other day 3 teachers came to ask me to be chairman of their newly organised “Obudu Literary Society” which I declined first & then 'refused' as they were most insistent. I heard their first debate was “Is modern civilisation a curse?”!! People who have the slightest scraps of education here think they're the bee’s knees & lord it over everyone else. The real “Bush” people are much nicer. The others are all on this independence movement to self-government in 1956, & according to those who have been out here a long time, their attitude towards Europeans is very much changed & it is not safe for the Fathers even to have any argument with them. One of the Holy Ghost Fathers who came out on the boat with me has now gone home again with severe injuries to his hand & arm from a machette (long hunting knife out here) attack by one of his teachers. It is thought that he will lose a few fingers of his left hand. The teacher said he was sorry he did not kill him & if he returns he will finish off the job & there are a few other instances of threats or fist striking. Europeans are liable to a fine of £5 for striking an African.
Our compound here is nicely
situated for scenery – at the foot of the Obudu-Cameroon Mountain range – [come some week-end and bring the fishing rod & we'll call at Dan somebody's place for the Poteen – you remember?!] We have a lot of snakes & scorpions in the compound here. The latter are horrible looking & very vicious – their bite is, they say, terribly painful. There are elephants about 30 miles away or less & bush cows or buffalo which I believe unlike most other wild animals are unprovoked attackers. There are monkeys, gorillas & leopards in the mountains & antelope. The flowering trees out here are magnificent – Flame of the Forest is a beautiful spreading branched tree with a mass of red flowers & fern type leaves. The fruit we get around here – pineapple, Paw-paw, limes, oranges, bananas, mangos, avocado, pear (a savoury really). It is funny to get freshly picked & grated coconut over one's sweet. Cola nuts are broken here like the pipe of peace. When you go into a house the owner breaks a Cola nut (horrible thing) & gives you ½ Cola & our loaf bread at home is made from flour, palm-wine & salt – finish. No baking powder or soda – the palm wine acts as a rising agent. The official opening of the hospital has been definitely arranged now for the 24th June D.V. As my interpreter told me “that he hears from our cook that sister tell him buy cocks from market & fatten them up because many many white man come here for this opening of hospital”.
[written on photo - Sacred Heart Hospital, Obudu - Patient arriving for operation for strangulated hernia c. 1954- Dr. Emily Twomey (Dublin) M.O.]
How is Pat getting on since she went home? Please write a long one soon & give me all the news & how they're all doing at home etc. & please do say a few prayers for me as its quite a worrying spot to be in at times with no one to consult. I'll write to Thérese sometime before she comes home D.V.
Love to you all
Emily
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