The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-11

pie in Central Africa whom Long found to pos
sess a flag Other signs OF rudimentary civili-
zai ion were not wanting. Some OF the soldlors
wore uniform, and the whole population was
clothed. The roads, moreover, were now some
twenty five feet WIDE and wound through con-
tinuous banana forests. amid which were seen
neat straw huts. divided in compartments tina
distinguish in their cleanliness the habitatlons oil
Ugunda."
Col Long found tho African monarch DWELL
ing in palace situated on a hill In the centre
of an amphitheatrc formed by seven high con-
centric walls or palisades, through which en-
trance Is had by opposing gates furnished with
COW bells. the interval of twenty yards between
each pnir of walls being occupied by huts Of the
minister's aud courticrs. III will be observed
that this mode of construction Is almost denti-
cal with that adopted for Pckin by the Tartar
Empcrors Of China.l Passing the seventh gate,
Long found himself in front OF n large pyramid
shaped hut supported bya corridor OF columns.
From within man Of majestic mien approached
the entrance; this was MISC. and here is his
portrait:
He appears scarcely thirty-nve years OF age,
certainly more than six feet high; his lace Is
nervous and expressive Of Intelligence. From
his largo restless eye CLEAN of ilerco brutality
beams out that mars an otherwise synpathctlf
his complexion light copper tint. He Is dressed
in u long cloak. common in fashion to TIM worn
10y the better class OF Arab merchants; The tex,
turc II Of blue cloth, trimmed with gold around
his head in graceful folds i wound q whit tur..
ban; his waist cncirclcd by u richly wrought
belt IN gold. from which is suspended q Turkieh
scimctar; his feet enrascd IN Moorish sandals
me with graceful sautation. IA dismounted
from my horse " Ugunda, to whom alternately
his eyes wandered with almost an expression oil
fear.
There Is no doubt that tho possession of this
/ Ia. Ia. 4
and Of a small galvanic battery. with which he
administered to the monarch and his courtiors
some agreeable shocks. invested Long with II
quasi divine character. and secured to him the
vcncration and firm friendship Of NJ. Ts6. On
the occasion OF his reception not less than thirty
| blacks were bchcadcd in his presence. and sim
| liar honOrs were paid to him at each visit. The
| King. moreover. showed the traveller his harrm,
| consisting of more than one hundred very pref
~ women. clothed in the simple and tasteful CUR
mont common 10 both sexes They surrounded
the stranger examined carefully the gilt trim
ninss Of his coat. and laughed in astonishmcnt
at his hair when he lifted his tarbouchc from
his head Since Col. Long tas we infer from the
portrait prcnxcd 10 this voumcl Is endowed
with the fatal gift of beauty. and at this moment
| was uttirod In tho gorgeous uniform Of the
! Chasscurs d'Afriquc. We are not surprised 10
! hear that these artless Indies grew somewhat
elnpresstes in their attentions 50 that cloud
passed over the countrnancc of the King
We pass 10 what Long has ~ tell us respecting
the natural features of Urgunda. it, people and
its products. The country. lac says. If rolling and
picturesque. groves Of banana trees that every
where abound ndorn the vcrdant landscape on
hill and dale But he saw nothing. absolutely
nothing. of that grand and magnificent spectacle
depicted by the pens Of more enthusiastic tray
| oil Vslp ga "A Of
which. in reality Is. and must ever he. n grave
| yard o. Europeans" Tho soil Of Urgunda Is
| richly imprcgnatrd with iron-rock crystal. and
granite. The principal tree is the wild ls from
whose bark a light brown cloth. not unlike our
so-called shoddy. il manufactured by maccra-
ton. The products are Indian corn, sweet pot,l-
| toes and sugar cane Of a -upH rior quality. To-
bacco. too. resembling the famous pcrique Ol
| Louisiana. Is grown in large quantities. and 10y
reason Of its delicious flavor. might be made d
lucrative article of export There are no fruits
except the banana AMI plainiain. which
grow Wild and in Insurance. The tree is
very large. and the liquid matter con
tanned in it, stock serves the natives Ion
water in sca-lu II dr,ush 1t Is a curiDu.
fact that the banana is scarcely eyer eat.n in
Il ripe state except 10y women. who liNewi-' oN'
tract from II an unffrmcnt'd and drliriou.
beverage. store Of which they have constant "a,
hand IN bottie--hnped glurd5 strung around
their necks. For mon the green fruit j. pre-
pared 10y roasting or 10y "A sweating proc So
Long anlrmS that the cattle OF Urgunda are
equal To- the best breeds OF England: they 1t,
not. howrv +. form rurt OF tho diet Of IN,
people. The chief industry of the country is the
tanning oi skins. ana some specimens shoWi
the visitor Wed in finish with European work
Tho natives are also skilfu workers in iron
andtheir lance heads are always nicely wrought
The cultivation Of the soil is carried only 10 Tia,
point Of supporting life and is wholly in tn
hands Of women, tho men occupying them
SELVES, for the most part, in the elephant chas,
for ivory. We may add that European goods
| copper and shells constitute the money %
Ursuuda. these articles boing obtained from
Zanzibar in exchange for ivory and cattle.
Here. as elsewhere. the explorer sought II
vain to truce, hy patient qu 'siioning. some trn
dtion that might throw light ON tho origin q
the people. But the customs Of one king. ~ @
one shcik. nrc lost in the cgotism and vanity
ofhis successor Nevertheless Col Long in
clincs to think that Central Africa. subsequent
TO the flow Of Mo-lcm invasion on the eastern
coaSt of the continent. was penetrate by tn
Arab numad. kindred spirit to the noted Ara
traveller, lin Bnutlh. imhued with desire t,
discover It's mysteries, or artugted by the a,ree,
of gain. to collect its gold. ivory and slaves.
Bearing with him the banner of Mahomct, thi
primitive explorer perhaps implanted in hi,
march among the negroes the first idea Of deity
hardly di-tin-;ushabln To-day, and. hy amagl
nation. Effected change in the color and typca
character ufthc Central African aborilnes. Fo
although the woolly hair is still there the nos,
and mouth have in these regions lost. the ON
it, ilatnoss. the other It's thickness. while th
tint of the Usundi is dnr1, copper Amonl
tho luftnr ttD,,t.ln hav.Nnr 4u.r uti.l tttttt,