In the Shadow of Man

Goodall and her mother awoke in the night to the scout Adolf asking for their help in tending to a mother and her newborn in the village. Goodall and Vanne, along with other women from the village, helped the mother recover from her birth complications. Vanne enjoyed helping people and put her medical provisions to use by running a small, informal clinic at their camp, which people came to each morning. Goodall recalls her mother successfully treating a man with significant sores by dripping warm salt water on his wounds for three weeks. As the word spread, Vanne’s clinic grew in popularity, and people traveled long distances to access her help. Goodall believes that “Vanne’s clinics not only cured many maladies but […] helped us establish good relations with our new neighbors” (40).

Goodall heard a story about chimps using sticks to scare away a lion and traveled with two local guides to Bubango village to meet the man who witnessed this behavior. Goodall recalls the forested rift, noting that today much of the land has been deforested for homes and agriculture. She reached Mbrisho’s home, a small hut near the village, and had tea and cakes with him. Goodall learned that it was Mbrisho’s deceased relative who had seen the chimps, and she couldn’t verify the story but nevertheless was grateful for Mbrisho’s friendship.