Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-05-09
Cameron In Africa.

a frica," the New York EUening Post
says:
Commander Cameron suffered much,
as all Central African travellers do,
with the malarious feveis of that
country, and the following description
OF the sensations experienced in an at
tack of the sort indicates the distress
ing nature Of the disease.
One night ! thought / was at least
twenty people, all of whom were in
pain, and that each one had the same
feeling as all the rest. Another night
the fancies were more distinct, and |
experienced complete sense OF duali-
ty. | imagined that another person, a
second self, was lying upon the oppo-
site side of the boat, and | was per-
iectly conscious Of every shake OF ague
and pang Of headache that he suffered.
! thought, too, that the teapot of cold
tea which had been placed on that side
OF the boat was for his sole benefit;
and when, IN my tossing about, | rolled
over To that side, | seized the teapot
and drank like whale, and chuckled
at the idea of the other thirsty mortal
having been done out of some of his
tipple."
Fever was not by any means the
only, perhaps it was not even the
greatest, hindrahce to the travellers
work. His porters and other seryitorS
constantly stole his merchandise, which
was his money; they got drunk at in
convenient times, deserted at critical
moments, outraged the natives and
created hostility, they would refuse to
move, too, when he wa, ready to
march, and the man whom he had en-
pIOyed to command them, constantly
abetted them IN their evil practices
Another serious obstacle was the irreg-
ularity concerning customs dues, which
were eXacted III every Chiefs territory
1t was frequently necessary to wait
day or two for a drunken Chief to get
sober before parley on this subject
could be begun, and then another day
or Two would be consumed in dispute
Is to the amount to be paid.
The natives were sometimes friend
~ and sometimes the reverse, but
whether lnendly or hostile they man
aged always to be extremely disagree
able. Their habit of amounting them
selves with rancid castor oil, and their
negative habit of not washing them
selves, made them unpleasant visitors,
ana they were as persistent rs they
were dlSagrecable guests. OF one Of
his visitors Mr.. Cameron writes:
lie seemed half-witted, and GER
tainly was the coolest fellow | ever
met; Tor he did not hesitate to taketh
pipe out OF my mouth. and, after "A
Win or TWO, to pass it on 10 Il circle
OF greasy, dirty natives, who were
Squattlng round us, staring as only a
negro can stare.
Another of the travellers annoy-
ancoS was that he was constantly ex-
ahmed and exhibited rs curiosity,
Writing of one of his visitors he saws.
He recognized some pictures of
animals which we showed him, but in
varlably looked at the back of the IA
per To see what was there, and re-
marked that he did not consider them
finished, since they did not give the
likeness of the other side of the ami
NAL.
This cXacting art critic was pleased
however, with his entertainment, and
he resolved TO detaiu the travellers for
several days, SO that the people. who
had never seen 4 white man, MIGHT
examine them and their effects.
Com. Cameron was not less 4 sight
seer IMAM ms entertainers were, al
though he was more cautious than they.
and ne has put upon record many OBJ
4 A
OF interest. In Unyamwezi he made
study OF African club life:
There are two OF these public
houses or, perhaps, theymay be more
properly termed clubs in nearly
every village in Unyamwezi, one for
each sex. That appropriated to the
women Is not open 10 strangers: but at
the the irequcnted 10y the men all tray
elerS OF distinction are welcomed by
the Chiefs and elders"
Youths become club-men rather early
IN Africa II appears:
"AS soon rs a boy attains the age of
seven or eight years he throws OF the
authority OF his mother and passes
most of his time at the club. usually
eating and often sleeping there.
Luxury and richness of apparel are
sought IN Africa as elsewhere, but in
crude ways chiefly. \ King who was
making royal progress through his
dommlonS called upon the traveller on
one occasion:
lie WAS dressed in a scarlet bur.
NOSE trimmed with gold and embroid-
cry winch looked rather odd over
ms greasy "ustcIoth, his only other
garment