The sun., 1885-06-28
The Ancient Homes OF Our Negroes.

There are few negroes In this country who
know from what African tribes they sprang
and just where their savage ancestors lived
In the dark continent before they came to
America In the holds Of slave ships. When
tho Rev. Il. II. GARNET was appointed Con-
sul-General to Liberia few years ago, he
knew that he was going to represent this
Government In the ancient home Of his fore-
fathers, and that at Brewersville, where his
daughter was 'teaching school, his great
grandfather had been petty chief and
lived In grass hut.
We see in this country comparatively few
representatives OF that great family Of
Bantu tribes that form much the larger part
| OF Africa's population south OF the Sahara
desert. Practically all OF our Africans were
derived from tho pure negro stock that peo-
pics the Soudan from the Nile to tho Allan
tic, ,,nd the seaboard from the great desert
far south to tho country Of the Hottentots
and Bushmen.
Only along tho Niger River and Its great
tributary, the Benue, did tho American slave
dealer and his native agents penetrate far
into the continent. Using these waterways
they opened regular slave trade among the
pure negro tribes dwelling in tho heart Of
the Soudan. DR.. BARTH saw American mer-
chandse along tho Benue River 700 miles
from the coast, and he said the Americans
took nothing for their produce but slaves
Mr. RICHARDSON wrote in 1850 that all that
part Of negro land had been put under con-
tribution to supply the South American mar
ket with slaves.
BY far the larger part OF our African fel-
low citizens, however, came originally from
tho dense forests OF Senegambia, Liberia,
and Guinea, many also from tho low downs
aud lightly timbored region OF the lower
Congo, and q much smaller number from the
half sterile seaboard OF Portuguese Angola.
The furthest inland station OF white slave
dealers on tho Congo was at Bona, only
sixty-five miles from tho ocean, and the ter
ritory from which thoy filled their slave pens
extended inland only as far as Isangila,
STANLEYs second station, $50 miles from the
coast. The American slave trade, except in
the Niger basin. was traffic in coast ne
groes. Behind the mountain barriers that
divided tho low-lying seaboard from the
plateaus Of Central Africa dwelt in compara-
two security, embarrassed by foreign men
stealcrs. millions OF other and very different
people whom LIVINGSTONE and his sue
cessors have made known to tho world.
Thus, according to the testimony OF nll
travellers, our colored neighbors are. for the
most part, derived from the least Intelligent
and the most unfortunate OF tho African
races. Tho subdivisions OF the Bantu family,
from the Niam-Niams north OF the equator
to tho Kalllrs OF the southern coast are
quito distinct In their physical mental, and
social development from the true negro.
Tho Congo explorers tell US that tho higher
they ascend tho river the finer tho human
type becomes. The average coast negro,
with his ill-shaped figure splHy feet. smooth.
retreating chin blubber lips, and woolly head,
does not contrast favorably with tho typical
Bantu, 4 who Is pictured to US as tall
and upright, with small hands and
wcll-shaped feet, high, thin nose. a beard
and moustache, and q plentiful crop OF hair
Mr. JOHNSTON says that In two points the
natives OF the upper Congo are striklngly
distinct from most OF the coast tribes-in
their lighter color and In their freedom from
the offensive smell which Is supposed wrongly
to characterize most Africans. These inland
tribes could not be enslaved by the coast
chiefs. They have never paid tribute In men
or ivory to their iweaker nelghbors Of the
seaboard. 1t was not until Arabs from Zan-
zlbar came among them with firearms that
they began to fill foreign slave markets and
wero led into captivity by hundreds OF
thousands to Egypt, Turkey. Persia, and
Madagascar
The pioneers who are working to develop
Africa and Its people must derive encourage
ment from the thought that In the United
States OF America, after centuries Of degrad-
ing bondage. tho descendants Of some OF the
least intelligent and progressive of the
African races are becoming fitted to enjoy
the advantages and perform the duties OF
civilized men. Many OF our colored citizens
doubtless have relatives In Africa who are
simply savages to-day, as their ancestors
were centuries ago; but there are myrlads Of
the natives OF the Congo Free State who can
not properly be called savages. They are
better housed and better fed than many Of
the poor OF Europe, and their customs, handi-
work, and languages show that they are the
kinsmen and the equals OF such South Afri-
can tribes as the Basutos, OF whom 1t was re-