ABSTRACT
Tremearne remarks: "The native will not work unless there is a great necessity, but when he has put his shoulder to the wheel, he does it with all his might. But there must be a necessity, either hunger, or else superior force must be present to make him toil." 2 Again, it has to be affirmed that the Ibo
What is here written is to place on record the manner of life that prevailed before the impact of western influences, and what still applies in the remoter parts of the Ibo country. The material needs of the native did not press heavily, nor is the enervating climate conducive to excessive exertion. The absence of pressure on the one hand, and the lack of energy on the other, combined to foster a leisurely disposed temperament. There was no call for initiative, nor demand for strength of purpose. The needs of life were, on the whole, easily satisfied. The farms supplied practically all the food. Cookin:g-and water-pots, a few implements, and some grass mats, pretty well completed the list of necessary property. Whatever accrued beyond these counted as "extras". The majority never troubled themselves further. Here and there, a few were more ambitious and collected treasures of sorts. (Vide p. 199.) These were accumulated chiefly by those who had other means than farming in making money, such as slave-dealers. Scarcely any grew more foodstuff than was required for their households. There was not much sale for farm produce, in any case, and it was not customary to till more land than would suffice for this purpose.
