Gold Rush

The discovery of gold--in the Klondike, in Australia, in California--usually disrupts whole territories, debauches the virgin countryside and turns the hearts of good men black with greed. Last week a primitive corner of West Africa's French Cameroons was enjoying a gold strike that seemed to be bringing nothing but happiness to everyone involved--everyone, that is, except the man who found the gold.

David Ambo had not been looking for gold at all but for a cooling drink to wash down his dinner. In the creek sand that came up in his scooped hands, the thirsty Kaka tribesman saw the glint of yellow metal. He ran home and told his wife, who returned to the creek with a shovel and an enamel basin. Within six weeks, the shores of Mboscorro Creek were aswarm with men, women and children panning gold dust. Local French authorities moved in, set up a buying agency that had instructions to pay out 170 French African francs (about 80-c-) for each gram of the metal as it came from the pan. The rush to cash in nearly demolished the office. Within half an hour, the agency's 5,500,000 francs were gone, and it had to send a hurry call to Paris for more. By last week, more than 125,000 grams of gold had been sent to France. During one month alone, the government had paid out more than 22 million French African francs to Kaka and Baya tribesmen bringing in gold dust in penicillin bottles.

Some 2,000 tribesmen in all had panned the gold with no properly staked claims, no disputes and no acts of violence. Most took away what money they needed for some long cherished possession and then quit. A few bachelors bought themselves wives. A few wives bought their freedom and the right to set up shop as independent prostitutes. Said one still faithful wife: "I work with my husband. He has bought a bicycle. This week I shall buy a sewing machine. After that, we'll give up gold mining." "I'll buy good things to eat, and some new clothes," said another. "Then I'll stop."

In all the district, as others scratched away on the creekside for the things they wanted most, only Gold Discoverer David Ambo was sad and idle. "A big Baya-man, who knows all things," said David gloomily, "he told me that the one who discovers gold must never touch it. If he does, the spirits will make him die."

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