That  such  forms  of  expenditure  are  not  the  necessary
grooves  into  which  a  place  like  Lagos  is  driven  in  order
to  get  rid  of  its  money  is  undoubted.  The  local
press  at  any  rate  indicates  other  grooves ;  for  ex-
ample here  is  a  cheerful  little  paragraph :

"  A  propos  of  what  was  said  in  your  last  issue  about
the  grave-diggers,  there  is  no  doubt  that  something
should  be  done  to  relieve  the  men  from  the  strain  of


XV  OVERWORKED  GRAVEDIGGERS  303

work  to  which  they  are  continuously  subjected.  The
demands  of  a  constantly  increasing  death  rate,  which
has  caused  the  cemeteries  to  be  enlarged,  make  it
necessary  that  the  number  of  grave-diggers  should  be
increased.  Besides,  these  men  are  poorly  paid  for
the  work  they  do.  Of  the  twenty  grave-diggers,  six
are  paid  at  the  rate  of  is,  per  diem,  and  the  rest  at
the  rate  of  lorf.  They  have  no  holidays,  either,  like
other  people.  While  the  Government  labourers,  of  whom
there  is  a  host,  may  skulk  half  their  time,  the  hard-
working grave-digger  is  at  it  from  6  a.m.  to  6  p.m.
every  day,  Sundays  included,  for  the  Grim  Reaper  is
ever  busy.  The  keeper  of  the  graveyards,
also,  has  much  to  do  for  the  paltry  salary  he  receives.
I  would  earnestly  appeal  to  the  authorities  to  do
something  to  raise  the  burden  of  this  overworked
staff."  1  So  would  I,  but  rather  in  the  direction  of
giving  the  "  Grim  Reaper "  and  the  grave-diggers
fewer  people  to  bury.  I  must  also  give  you  another
beautiful  little  bit  of  local  colour,  although  it  suggests
further  expenditure.  "  It  is  satisfactory  to  note
that  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  intends  to  take  up
the  question  of  the  swamp  near  the  petroleum  magazine.
