The New York herald., 1877-11-14


| seldom called upon for the expression of
his views, nor would venture on this
ground or meddle in the matter if I did not
feel SO very strong an interest in Africa.
But will present you with an example Of
what might come to pass if the question be
not settled. A number of European mer-
| chants interested in African commerce con-
struct houses and stores and depots on the
Congo, say on either bank, north or south.
The natives. troubled with indigestion or
bad dreams, take it into their heads that
it would be fine thing to rob the white
people and burn their dwellings, and depots
and murder them. The thing is done,
pandemonium is re-enacted, the news
papers and public opinion hear the news,
and expressions Of ''shame" on all the
Powers interested are very loud and strong
British men-of-war hurry up and lombard
everybody, or, to use an expressive though
vulgar phrase, they ''knock things into o
cooked hat;" and perhaps the punishment
exceeds the offence, because the innocent
would be involved in the destructive fury.
Or, as the case might easily be, suppose
the European merchants capable Of de-
Tending themselves, and that by a little
strategy they capture the conspirators and
doom them, one and all, without mercy, to
death by claiming them in gangs, young and
old, and drown them off hand in the deep
water Of the Congo. What would be said
of this2 I do not say it has or has not been
done. I merely state what might happen.
1 put possible case before the enlightened
reader. Would you be surprised to hear
that it has been done? What ought, then,
to be planned to prevent Mussolongos and
natives, with bad dreams and deranged in
digestion, from strangling lawful, legitimate
and humane commerce? What ought to be
done to prevent pitiless, vengeful merchants
from placing themselves under the ban of
Christians? .t
HINT TO ENGLAND.
Let England arrange with Portugal at
once to proclaim sovereignty over the
Congo River to prevent the sensibilities of
the world being shocked some day when
least expected. I have limited to you few
-
strong reasons why the question ought to
be settled. could say very much more,
but space will not permit me, and ga word
to the wise is sufficient"
HENRY M. STANLEY.
THE DEATH OF FRANCIS POCOCK.
~ heeoal LoANDA, Sept. 1, 1877.
For the satisfaction Of those who have be-
come interested in Francis Pocock, whose
courage. many virtues and fidelity to duty
have formed the subject Of many para
graph in my former letters, I cannot do bet
ter than give slight sketch of his character
as he appeared to me from our first ac-
quaintance up to the day Of his death.
COMING OUT OF THE SHELL.
For the first six months of our cOmpan-
ionship he remained to me as an undevel-
oped man. There was no great demand on
his active moral or mental powers. He was
rather shy and reserved, and there was no
call for whatever of usefulness lay concealed
in him. He had simply to obey orders,
and this he did without meriting much
praise. He labored under the disadvantage
of not understanding the language of the
people over whom he was sometimes re-
uuired TO exercise supervision and control !;
but by and by he became quite proficient
in the vernacular, and it was then he
began to be surprisingly useful, showing q
perfect acq uaintance with his duties, with
+ a readiness to perform them and a true de-
yotion to our mission. Hitherto he had
been frequently subject to the acclimatiz-
ing fevers Of Africa, which were sometimes
of a very severe form but finally his healthy
constitution triumphed over all attacks of
fever, and fattered myself that should
be able to introduce to science and COM
merce one young Englishman who might be
a great acquisition to future explorers.
HE DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF.
During my absence with Mtesa, Emperor
Of Uganda he was placed in several delicate
positions, out of which he extricated him
self with great credit. 1t was after this last
three months absence from camp that Frank
began to endear himself to me. While ex-
plorinp the Alexandra Nile he had another