The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-05-21 00:00:00

STANLEY AND TIPPOO TIB.

A Reuter's despatch, received on Monday, gives the
following message from Matadi, on the Congo River,
dated 'March 30:—During the two days' stay made
by Mr. Stanley's expedition at this place in order to
organise the caravan intended to proceed by way of
the Falls to Leopoldville, a resident here had a con-
versation with Tippoo Tib, in which the latter entered
into full particulars concerning his past and present
connection with Mr. H. M. Stanley. It was at Zan-
zibar, where Tippoo Tib, accompanied by h's son, had
gone to sell ivory, that he received Mr. Stanley's
letter from Brussels, proposing to him to enter the
service of the Association, No mention waq then made
of an appointment as Governor of the Falls, it being
merely stated that Tippoo Tib's services would be used
on the Upper Congo as near as possible to the centre
of his operations in Africa. Tippoo Tib mentioned these
proposals to his son, who adviEed him not to accept
them. He resolved to await Mr. Stanley's arrival,
offering his services meanwhile for engaging 600
Zanzibar natives for the projected expedition. After
speaking of the services which he had rendered to
Lieutenant Cameron and Mr. Stanley, and particu-
larly to the latter on his first expedition, Tippoo Tib
was asked what had decided him to accept Mr.
Stanley's offer and to accompany him to Boma. He
replied as follows: "I never clearly understood the
object Or the organisation of the International
African Association. The other Arab chiefs and my-
self at first believed on seeing expeditions organised
at Zanzibar under Captain Cambier and Lieutenant
Becker that the Europeans wished to compete with
us in the markets of Tabora and Zanzibar, and export
like ourselves ivory and produce of various kinds.
We did not know whether Stanley and the other white
chiefs were acting for the King of the Belgians, for
Belgium, or for the International Association, and we
were always left in doubt on the point. But now that
we have seen that such are not the intentions of the
whites, that is to say, of the Belgians and English,
whom we have met on the east coast; now that they
have abandoned this part of Africa in order to estab-
lish by common accord, we are told, between all the
great peoples of Europe, a State where everybody may
freely trade we see no further reason to doubt the
good intentions of the whites, who have already done
so much in Africa." Being next asked if there were
not other reasons which had led him to accept Mr.
Stanley's proposals, Tippoo Tib replied, "Yes. I con-
fess that at first the idea of becoming a functionary of
the Independent Congo State was a singular one to
me. But Stanley pointed out that I should have a
privileged position, that the State on its side could only
gain by seeing its establishments on the Upper Congo
supported by the author:ty which for many years past I
had acquired over the people of the interior, who all
knew me through having traded with me; while as
regarded myself, I could not but strengthen my com-
mercial relations by means of the support which the
Congo State would afford to me as to all who were
established on its territory. 1 perceived the justice
of these arguments, and I had, moreover, at heart to
remedy as far as I could the mischief which the
Arabs and the population of the Falls had done in
destroying the station at Stanley Falls. This act
was the result of misunderstanding and imprudence,
but I do not think that I can refuse to make repara-
tion if, as I believe I can do so." Tippoo Tib ad-
mitted that he was also influenced by commercial con-
siderations of another kind, and said, "The circum-
stances under which trade is carried on with the East
Coast are no longer so favourable as some years
back when I commenced trading with Zanzibar and
abroad. Trade at that period had, so to speak, no
existence. I established myself at flouron, near
Tabora with my old father and my brother Mahomed
Massoudi, wishing first to create in the neighbour-
hood plantations yielding satisfactory returns, and,
above all, to monopolise the ivory trade by establish-
ing Arab correspondents throughout Central Africa,
on the shores of the lakes, and as far SR Nyangotd.
The people of the Centre, who had no means of dis-
posine of their considerable stocks of ivory, let me
have them at a price which enabled me to realise a
large profit. In a short time I had monopolised
nearly all the sources of ivory production, and all the
trade of the Manyueina was in my hands. The great
difficulty has always been to bring the produce of
Central Africa to the markets of Tabor and Zanzi-
bar. At. first this was easy enough, but gradually
the peoples of the Centre became aware that they
could also gain something by my operations, and
commenced imposing heavy tribute upon me for
right of way through their territories. For instance,
the Wa-Kundis, who alone possess the boats neces-
sary for crossing the Malagarazi, exact exorbitant
terms for the use of them. Certain tribes sometimes
attacked my caravans, causing me heavy loss in men
and merchandise. Even on the coast the conditions of
trade changed. The Germans were everywhere, and
their pretensions rendered business more and more
difficult. Great difficulties arose from this state of
things, and on all these grounds I concluded that if
the trade of Central Africa could follow another
route and reach the coast by sure roads on which no
tribute would have to be paid, and where no diffi-
culties were to be apprehended, everybody would
be the gainer. After what I have seen at Banana
and Boma, I believe that I am not mistaken, and
that traders like myself can only gain by despatching
their produce from Nyangou6 by way of the Falls
and the Congo."
On being asked what he would do on reaching the
Falls, and how he would fulfil his mission, Tippoo
Tib replied: "In the first place, I feel sure that
Stanley will succeed in his enterprise and relieve
Emin Pasha. Ho is a real Arab for energy and intel-
ligence. I do not know yet for certain whether I
shall go with him as far as Wadelai, but I think I
shall. Once installed at the Falls, I shall rebuild the
stations and summon all the Arab and native chiefs
to a great meeting, at which I shall announce to
them my nomination as Governor and my inten-
tions. They will be surprised, I expect, to see me
arrive from this side, for the news of my leav-
ing Zanzibar with Stanley, and of my nomina-
tion as Governor cannot reach Nyangou6 and Central
Africa in less than four or five months and I shall
arrive at the Falls before that time. months,
order is
re-established at the Falls I shall probably undertake
a commercial expedition to Nyangou6 and the Lake
region."
The Arab chief's real name is Hamed-ben-Hamed,
the sobriquet of Tippoo Tib having been given to him
owing to a twitching of the eyelids to which he is
subject. The best understanding exists between Mr.
Stanley and Tippoo Tib, and the latter has already
been of great assistance in maintaining order among
the Zanzibar man. Son of an Arab of Zanzibar,
Tippoo Tib detests negroes, and is attached to the
whites, whom in conversation he calls his European
brothers.