Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-01-16
TALES AND SKETCHES.
CAPTAaN sPEAE's JOURNAL.
THE SOURCE oFTHE NILE.
Manners md Customs OF the Cep-
trail Africans.

trail Africans.
The history of the discovery of the sour
ces of the Nile has been written by one of
the officers engaged in the Enterprise, and
the book has just been published in Eng
land, under the title journal of the Dis
covery of the Source Of the Nile, by John
Hanning Speke, Captain Ii. NJ Indian Army
with Map, Portraits ond Illustrations" 1t
will be republished here by Messrs. Harper
& Brothers, and will form valuable addi-
tion to their already large and complete
series of works on African discovery, which
includes those of Livingstone, Barth, 'Du
Chaillu, Gordon Cumming, Anderson of
Lake Ngami fame, and Others We subjoin
few extracts from Captain Speke's book,
which will give orf readers foretaste of
very interesting story of travel and adj
venture.
One of the travellers chief troubles was
occasioned by an incorrigible habit of his
attendants to get married" at every oppor-
tunity-and opportunities do not appear to
have been lacking. Here is
CASE OF JEALOUSY.
"a fearful row now broke out between
Bombay and Baraka Many Of nv men
had by this time been married, notwithstand-
ing my prohibition. Baraka, for instance
had with him the daughter of Ungurue,
chief of Plume; ,Wadimovo, woman
called Manamaka Sangizo, his wife and
sister; out Bombay had not got one, and
mourncd for girl lie had set his eyes on,
unfortunately for himself letting Baraka into
his confidence. This set Bamka on the Qui
rtre to catch Bombay tripping; for Baraka
knew he could not get her without paying
good price for her, and therefore watched
his opportunity to lay a complaint against
nim of purloining my property, by which
scheme he WOULD he thought, get Bombay s
place as storekeeper himself
In sly manner Bombay employed some
OF my other men to take five wires, a red
blanket and five hundred strings of beads to
his would-be fatherln-law, which, by pre-
,iously concocted arrangement, was to be
her dowry price. These men did as they
were bid; but the futhcr-n-law returned
the things, saying he must have one more
wire. That being also supplied, the scoun-
drcl wanted more, and made so much fuss
about 1t that Baraka became conversant
with all that were going on and told me of
1t. This set the whole camp in fame, for
Bombay and Baraka were both very drunk,
as well rs most of the other men, so that it
was with great difficulty | could get hold of
the rights of their stories. Bombay ac-
knowledged he had tried to get the girl,
for they had been sentimentalizing together
for several days, and both alike wished to
bc married. Baraka, lie said, was allowed
to keep wife, and his position demanded
that he should have one also; but the wires
were his own property, and not mine, Cor he
Was given them by the chiefs as Il perquisitc
when paid their hongo through him. He
thought il most unjust and unfair of Baruka
to call him to account in that way. but he
was not surprised at it, as Baraka, from the
beginning of the journey to the present mo-
ment had always been back biting him, to
try and usurp his position.
"Baraka, ut this, somewhat taken aback,
said there were no such things as perquisites
on II journey like this for whatever could
bc saved from the chiefs was for the common
good of all, and all alike ought to share in
it-rcpeating words | had often expressed
Then Bombay retortcd, trembling and foam
Ing i'll his liquor; i know shall get the
worst of il, for whilst Baraka's tongl is Il
yard long, mine is ouiy an inch but would
not have spent any wires of masters to pur-
chase slaves with (aliuding to what Baraka
had done at Mihamlo); nor would |, for
any purpose of making myse: richer; but
when it comes to wife, that's different
thing
The end Of this quarrel was on Mr. Bonn
bays part droll enough:
when more sober, Bombay again came
TO crave thousand pardons for what he
had done threw himself down at my feet,
then at Grants, kissed our toes, swore
was his Ma Bap father and mother; he
hao no father or mother TO teach him better;
he owed all his prosperity to me men must
err sometimes; oh, if / would only forgive
him-and so forth. Then being assured
that | knew he never would have done as
he had If womQn's attractions had not
led him astray, he went to his work again
like man, and consoled himself by taking
SangizOs sister to wife on creuit instead of
the old love, promising TO pay the needful
out OF his pay, and return her to her brother
when the journey was oyer.n
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
Captain Speke, who saw matches made
at such short notice, bethought him to apply
for some information concerning marriage
customs. lie received this reply from the
Queen of Uganda;
"rhere are no such things as marriages in
Uganda there are no ceremonies attached
10 It. lfany Mkungu, possessed of pretty
daughter, committed an offence, he might
give her 10 the king as peace,ofIering il
amy neighboring King had u pretty daughter
and the King OF Uganda wanted her, she
might be demanded as fitting tribute.
The Wakungu in Uganda are supplied with
women by the king, according TO their
merits, nom seizures In battle abroad, or
seizures from refractory officers at home.
The women are not regarded a. property
according TO the Wanyamuezi practice,
though many exchange their daughters and
some women, for misdenieanors, arc sold
into slavery while others are logged, OF
are degraded 10 do all the menlal services OF
the house"
The question, however, had i,s ineonye.
nlenees as the Queen mother, whether she
felt loollsh towards him herself or NOT, sas,
peoled that the inqulrng English soldier
bad mind 10 have a wiis. With this idea
la her ally head, she was, Ike DaTkls, a
willing creature
"'fh0 company noS hsealps laval. Ahen