Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-19
EXPLORATIONS IN AFRICA.

From Goumbee | ascended the Rem
bo-Ovenga 20 miles until reacLed the
Ofoubou River, which falls into the Rem
bo-Ogenga, ascended the Ofoubou about
10 miles, then left the river for an in
land journey through the Bakalsi tribe,
the bushmen of Western Equatorial AT
rica. reached the praires Of the inte-
rior, where the AsEira tribe is situated,
after Journey Of 2lo miles. This new
sight was most magnificent. | could see
in the vast landscape spread before me,
prairies, hills, dales, mountains, forests,
streams and beautiful lakes. III neftfi I
west direction are The mountains known
to this people by the name Of Nkoumou
Neboualee. | could see in the far dis
tance their blue outlines and the fantastic
form of their peaks, some of which were
lost in the clouds. Opposite to the Nkou-
mou-Naboualee could see the beautiful
Andele and Ofoubou Orere Mountains,
whose dark green foliage was quite in
contrast with the yellow grass of the
prairies gently sloping to the feet of these
mountains. The River Oloubou takes
its source in the Ofoubou Mountains, from
which it takes its name. There it is a
beautiful clear rivulet. From the Noun
tains, the sight is one of the most beauti-
full | have ever seen in Africa. The
prairies may be fifty miles in length and
from ten to fifteen miles in width, and
among them are from $50 10 200 villages.
In the lakes are fishes called by the ma
tives Niozi and Roua. Many are caught,
especially in the dry season. All the
tribes had seen before in my travels in
Africa were dependent on the white men
for their clothing, or if not, were almost
state of nudity, wearing skins or kind
of bark. But the Ashira people are
quite different. They are generous, hos
pitable, and in some measure devoted to
agriculture. Food is plentiful, and while
| soJourned among them | received, by
way of presents, many goats, fowls and
lunches of plantainS. OF course, two
or three days afterward most of them
-te-tre"t se'-s~th'~s in return from you, the
white men being to them the personifca
, ton of wealth. The Ashira people cul
tivate plantain, manioc, sweet potato
ground nuts, two kinds of ganomeS, sugar
!, cane, and, TO some extent, cotton for theil
own use in making bags. They cultivate
tobacco in large quantity, and carry on I
large trade with other tribes of the inte
: rior in this last article. They make thei
own cloth, called Ndengui. 1t is mad,
{ with leaves of kind of palm tree which
i l have never seen before. Some oftlei
Ndengui are very soft, and are made 0
D. different patterns. They have beauti
!, full black dye, with which they sometime
o dye their cloth. They make also yer,
y beautiful caps. They work to some ex
If tent in iron.
y The Ashira people are the most inter
IS esting people have yet seen in Africa
4 have never seen villages kept in 5
10 good order. The walls of their house
l are made of the bark of trees, and thei
j. roofs are covered with leaves, general
% of the palm. The Ashira people are ais
~ the blackest people have seen in Wes
ern Equatorial Africa; they are not yer
y tall; but are generally well proportione'
ui The women are the handsomest anon
w. the black tribes | have visited. Most
= them have given up the habit of hiir
ny their teeth sharp, and only sharpen the
as a little in the middle. 1t was with gre
ne trouble that / could persuade this peop
'' that | could not accept any OF their 81
ters, daughter or wives; that it was n
y" the fashion of the white man. Unlil
III many other tribes, they do not mar
their daughters, and do not put them
'er to their hands until they have attain
'e' the age Of womanhood. Unmarried gi
yer are not allowed to wear anything; so
yer girl or a woman that has never be
ry' married is easy to be recognized.
tne young man can make his proposition
I. the parents, who then let him know I
'el- amount Of goods or slaves must be Civ
lan before possessing the bride. The c
bad has nothing to do in the choice Of !
nan husband; she is bought, and consider
ON almost as slave when married. S
ven has to provide food for her husband, v
in return is obliged to present her fr
time TO time brass rods, which she eitl
ard wears around her neck, or in the form
zed, bracelets aud anklets and beads. WI
he is a rich man, he has sometimes
give her one or two fathons OF cid
ade The women are very fond Of brass or
ssel ments. Rich men wear two large ri
on each of their ankles. Intoxicai
4. 4 II