ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the Kru, who were engaged by all whites irrespective of nationality, and the Senegalese, who were the soldier-workers primarily of the French. It is concerned with French recruitment among west Africans and also deals with Belgian recruitment of British 'subjects.' Kru working habits had had an ancient history by the latter part of the nineteenth century. These coastal people had come in contact with the Portuguese. Exploitation pure and simple was the explanation for the way many of the Senegalese behaved toward the people whom they were conquering on behalf of the whites. A certain number of Senegalese always figure in reports about French non-white personnel at any place or in any expedition. The pool of Senegalese from which they drew was nevertheless a precious one, and they did everything they could to prevent other whites from engaging workers from their territory. It was the Belgians who were scouring the west coast for workers.
