In the eastern part of Liberia, both along the coast and for a considerable distance into the interior, is spoken the Gweabo language. The tribes that use it, with slight dialectic differences, live some distance west of the Cavally River, which is the dividing line between Liberia and the Ivory Coast, a French dependency, though some of the interior tribes extend also into French territory. These peoples are divided into five tribes: the Nyabo (with six divisions), the NlWie (English ‘Nimiah’, with three divisions), the Bolokwe (with three divisions), the Drebo (English ‘Tremble’), and the Gbwolo, Gwlobo. These five tribes, collectively known as Gweabo, are generally, but incorrectly, classed as ‘Grebo ’, which should be reserved for a coast tribe lying just east of the coast Gweabo and at the mouth of the Cavally. The true ‘Grebo’ are subdivided into six divisions and speak a language which is quite different from Gweabo, though closely related to it, being intermediate between it and Kru. The ‘Grebo’ are known as Gbwobo by the Gweabo-speaking tribes. West of the Grebo proper are found the Kru, who are termed Menãkwe by the Gweabo.

L'institut peut-il jouer un rôle particulier sans que son activité ne jfasse double emploi avec les organismes scientifiques, politiques ou éducatifs déjà existants? Oui, car l'Institut est remarquablement placé pour contribuer à l'application des données scientifiques dans le domaine pratique, en ce qui touche diverses questions coloniales. Sa tâche sera done, avant tout, un travail de coordination en vue de faire disparaître l'abîme qui existe trop souvent entre l'ethnologue et l'administrateur ou le missionnaire; de signaler au premier les besoins des autres et d'attirer son attention sur les problèmes occupant ceux-ci, en particulier l'étude des institutions africaines et aussi les changements sociaux dus au contact des Blancs et des Noirs.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Lugard (in the Chair), Rev. Father Dubois, Professor de Jonghe, Geheimrat Dr. Kastl, Professor Lévy-Bruhl, Mr. J. H. Oldham, Rev. Father Schmidt, Rev. E. W. Smith, Professor R. Thurnwald, Professor G. Van der Kerken, Mr. I. Schapera (attending under Article 5, rule 6, f, of the Statutes), Professor H. Labouret (Director), Professor D. Westermann (Director), Mr. H. Vischer (Secretary-General), Miss D. G. Brackett (Secretary).