The Brookhaven leader., 1883-03-08
Christmas In Central Africa.


known, and Christmas are hang
with unfortunate travellers and unap
preciated missionaries instead o glitter
ing and show; presents. Think OF
Christmas in the reyion OF the North
Pole, where the n ght lass TOR SIX
months, so tat even the ab.cst OF the
Esquimaux can not distingu sh Christ
mas-cve from Thanksgiving night, nor
Christmas morning rom Washington ;
Birthday or Decor rton day! Even mo e
depressing is Christmas in Central
Africa, as distingu she'd English tray
e!er once discovered to hs mingle sor-
row and danger.
The traveller was a good and noble
man. He was en arel in d SEQ er NJ
fresh Ia es. new nd, of cannib Is. and
orig nal sources the [iie in the heart
o, Africa, and his only desire was to TO
good 10 the hum race, and } pro e
that the maps made by Diner ayelors
were all wrong. He had been three
years in the ID rk Cont nent, and hav-
ing su crrd inres antlr ron fever,
starvati n the rude embra ca of lions
and elephanis th bite3 o deadly ser
pents and he crlClt;cs of native Kin S
WIS nearly worn on. lie ar ivSd late
one n iCrnoon on ne shore y mi h
Ia @ which no o her white III II la e..
seen. and which WI at Least five hnn
drcd miles distant from any Of tx
various localities in which Eu opaAn
map-m kers had previously placcl t.
He lay down under the shadow of the
trees, ia MT with all tn var Gus thingS thu
predispO-e man to be IA mt n t'enj :;
A f,.;a hat ,,, IL . Z, 81.
he would compel the map-ma ;ers {
place Lake MiambVe where he wa1tG
it, and not where the sci SHY y
agned that it would present the mn,
picturesque appearance. Suddenl h.
remembered that it was the 4th o. e
cember, and that Christmas eve W nj
naturally arrive in the course of the
ne It two hours. The thoaght sa,iiened
him. He glanced at his bare feet or
his supply of stockings had long since
given out-and he thought Of he Ii ppr
homes N England, where the chi dren
were preparing to hang u their mo h
ers' largest stockings. VIII lie he must
SPEND the blessed Christmas season
among savage heather and unframed
animals. He felt at that moment thaf
he would give his new lake for an hour
in his English hone. and he co cred
his face with hjs hands and sobbed hin
self asleep.
When he awoke it was broad dav-
light. The woods were vocal with par
rOts who inces antly rema ked Poll
wants cracker. anil ost'iches, and
other tropical birds, each singing at the
top of its voice On the bosom of the
lake t!oated immense native canoes
bearing parties of excur ioniSts. the
music OF whose accord;ons anil ban oes
came over the water to the Wear cd
traveller. He was hungry, and eli in
his rockets for his quininc pills. but
they were all gone. He tired to rise to
his feet but he was too weak and hcu-
matte to rise w;thou; help. so he sank
back, murmuring :" Tis ard. ard in
deed, to die on Christmas among The
'eathen."
The sound of women voices reused
him. Three native women, clad only
with the Set]e and pon1b) worn by their
sex in that part of Africa, emerged
from the forest on their way to draw
water from tho lake They saw
the traveller, and one of them, moved
with compassion, sang. in low, mourn
full tone; The poor white rash done
come to Africa. He hasn't no mother
for 10 fry hominy Tor him. nor no wife
for TO send to the store with ug.
Enfeebled as he was the traveller knew
that this was wrong. for he hal r nd
Nungo Parks Travels. and he could
not hep remarking: You wo Hen don't
sing that song as it ought to be sung
''~ing it yourself, them rctorJed the
singer. in n cold heart ess way, and
thereupon the women passed on, and
let he wretched white man to perish
The crlcitf of the women made the
travele so indignant that he resolved
to make one tremendous effort for lie.
He managed to rse, q ter pain I'll cXer
tons and the use of many scientific
terms, and hobbled slowly toward q
native village about Grar,cr of a milo
away. He had scarcely reached it when
he was seized by two gigantic eanni-
balls and dragged 10 tho kings palace,
where he iopcd that either d a,h oi
break asst, he did not much care watch,
awaited him.
The palace consisted of one large
room with an enormous throne extend
ing entirely across one end of il. On
this throne sat TIVE We native Kings il .
row, each one with q musical instrN
ment in his hand The one who sat i.
the middle looked iiercel5 at the trav
eler. and demanded of his captors wi At |
was the chargo against him.
"Poor white trash, Mr.. Johnsing,"
briefly replied the largest OF tho two
cannibals.
"Mr. Bones-I should say. prisoner,
began the King, ''what do YOU say for
yonrself!'
81 am white man," replied the
traveller; shut 'aven't 'ad any soap
for years, so plead hexten iating cir |
cumstances. Besides. lam 'ungry. viii
you not give me some breakfast -
''The Kings face grew bright with
rage--for it could not grow any darker
than it was and he turned to his |
brother Kings, and eohyersed with them
rapidly in the Mjambwe tongue. They
were evidently discussing the fate o. the
traveller. for presently the middle King |
cleared his throat. and said
Prisoner, you have forfeited souf
life, but we nre disposed to be merei nj. !
You ought properly to be ba.Sei al We,
and a terward ca en-, but we shall pro I
nounce . lighter sentence. Tou will
listen attentivcly while we s'ng the
opening chorus and the iavogi,e plan'a.
tion melodies, and ION viii guess evesy /
conundrum and laugh at every ose. |
Say l not wisely. iroiker Bones9n
unanimous ..Yah' vah'' from the
"a txs Kf.... :. = Il Il -. .,...rtal