Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-01-02

necessities Of life
The governor of Urinzar had next to be
passed Although he had invited us 10 come
quickly. by sending his royal copperrod bearer
we did not feel confident that he also would not
fleece us, because the Arab traders had report
ed him as man whose avarciousness knew
no hounds. We were i'll provided with cloths
and beads, but bold front was made TO pass
the extortioners country, and we considered
ourselves fortunate iD paying only half our
stock 10 trade without receiving any article IN
exchange. Crowds of his reiauers wildly wei.
coined us, the first white men. laughing aud
ridiculing us as we walked along the path, gen.
orally afraid to come near and sometimes dod-
gIng us for miles. Even 10 camp, under can.
vases. we were cot safe from being stared at.
Pitching water on them was found to be the
most elhcacious. making them run away laugh.
ing. During the night we had 10 fire at
thieves. They became so bold and daring,
throwing stones into camp, stealing the clothes
Of single individuals while outside that two or
three were killed, which gave The inhabitants
a wonderful idea Of our power and watchful.
ness; also, that we must he magicians to have
killed notorious thieves hitherto considered in-
vulnerable. Nothing was ever said for having
Killed them. Some instances may be given Of
the snperstitnion Of this country The people
having seeeme visit waterfall alone, report.
ed 1t to the prince, and the story went about
that we had come to food the country. The
ruler learned our evil eye, and would not show
US anything, neither would he accept the revol.
yer pistol as he thought it had been bewitched
Our camp was kept two or three miles away
| from the miserable creatures abodes. After
Ten days we had the good fortune. one mid
night, TO be ordered forthwith out Of his domin-
ions, when we proceeded toward The countries
ruled by the three great despotic kings, near
tie Victoria.
| CIVIL SAVAGE. ... ..........
The first, Rumanika, proved o remarkable
| contrast to the rude barbarians VIC had seen
previously. He received US with n 'Yambo
| lhow DO yon do) and hearty shake of the
| h0nd INN ediniely on our arr vial. While seat
ed in tiny room among his sons and BROTH
ers, he politely invited us to sit on the mating
| facing him. Smiles inquiries, and welcomes at
being so fortunate as to see white men. contin-
ually burst from him. Every day do | see
Arabs. but never white men He would say
laughingIy, Show me that gun, the powder
! flask yonr hat &C. Then he would look and
wonder at our shoes. 'Did we think the lake
bigT How did We like the hills in the coun-
tryT How did we know there we're people
hereT Did The chief in Uzina treat us well2
lie said this jokingly, knowing We must have
been enormously deeced by him. In fact, We
formed the most char ming inprt ssion Of his
genieness, amiabiliy ard intelligence. His
brothers and sons show cd great attachment to
him and sympathy towar me, sitting with me
for hours while lying sick; bringing me flowers,
birds nests, animals, or anything curiously that
might interest me. His people also, living in
the palace vicinity had ;mb bed the gentleness
| OF their king, whose greatest delight was in ex.
! amining pictures Of his peasantry our oldiery
or English men and women as they dressed at
home. My servant, who called every morning
to ask after him, would complain good na,ured
ly at being kept so long exhibiting the pictures
TO each Of his five wives in succession, hut in re-
tarn, would invariably bring me back some lit
tie presen. of fowl or some wine. In appear.
ance this Rumanika was very tall. slender and
handsome. straight features shaved head and
face. dressing generally in loose sleeve embroi-
iered cloak 10 below his knees, and orn ament-
ed with brass spangles on each wrist and large
varegated beads on his ankles. Strangely
enough, notwithstanding these superior quail
tiles like most Africans any toy would amuse
his uneducated mind. made jumping jack
for his child. hut this be appropriated to him
self and sent me carpenter to cut down a
tree so that life size one might be made for
him. His chief diet was milk, rarely touched
grain or meat. Goats and sheep he thought
| unclean. and seldom drank q e plantation wine
for which his country is famous His queen
and female relatives fed upon milk, and the con-
sequence they became fattened to enor-
mons sizes. and when seen 10 motion their ex.
cessive obesity obliged them to be supported
on either side by friend. the flesh of their
arms hanging down in a fabby mass, like the
widest Of fashionable sleeves. They are drilled
IL. ..c. II.
jug even after it has been empted. The peo-
pie have a curious custom of chewing coffee
ther-: the berry is plncked and dried soon of.
ter the embroyo has formed and when eaten
has pleasant and a stimulating effect. This
king superior and excellent as he was. was una
BILE to rise above the superstitious of his coun-
try, and felt disappointed when Captain Speke
could not give medicine by which the death
Of a rebel brother could be effected
Again, one night my men shouted for
their gnns, they having seen three animals,
larger than donkeys and kissing like snakes,
come into the camp, and they turned out TO
shoot them, bnt were too freight ened.--
Next morning the king, being thought q
divine, was asked for an explanation of
this phenomenon, and the plan to be adop'
ted on their again appearing His answer
was. My rebel brother has sent these
monsters of evil spirits, and you must shoot
them. II, after challenging them three times.
they do not reply, as You may then be con
vinced that they cannot be men. He guar
dpd us at the same time to beware Of mis-
taking them for leopards. This caution
had probably some connection with the
idea Of the transmigration Of souls. Du'
ring the i've months l was laid up at this
place, We were on the most friendly and
intimate terms. If his gun was to be
cleaned or his clock to be mended, or his
coat patched or if he wanted particular
color of fowl or goat for rain making pur
poses, or a picture to be drawn. he always
applied TO me- Ordinary criminals he wa:
never harsh with-his brother dealt with
them. Thefts we're punished by imprison
meut (the stocks) for two or thee months
beating with stick. ine Of ten goat
was sufficient woundipg with spear, al
property was con6scated. half going to th,
king and half to the injured party-if ther
was no property, be was sent to the stocks
The murderer was yariously treated. accor
ding to the eyidence--some had their eye
gouged out, while the generality wer