Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-24

About the Congo Country.
from Mr.. Tisdelps Report

total fall of 1900 feet. There are many
tribes within the valley of the Congo. each
tribe living quite to itself, being ruled
over BY q chief or king, who is absolute
dictator within his own tribal domain.
As . rule, these people are cruel.
treacherous, fhieving set. and. notwith-
standing published reports to the contrary,
it is not safe for q white man to travel
without an armed escort. The natives are
very much afraid of the white men. and
particularly 80 of the armed Houssas.
whom they consider child-eating cannibals.
The precision uf their aim and the certain
fatal result of their rifle shot strike the
natives with terror. Beyond Stanley Pool
a white man or q caravan belonging to
the International Association has never vet
penetrated to any distance from the main
river excepting in boats. and invariably
the explorations have been made along
the Congo and for short distance on one
or TWO Of its branches. and then q strong
guard had been found necessary lest the
boats might be captured by the pirates
who swarm on the rivers of the up country
regions. The houses or huts in which
these people live are built of reeds and
grass tightly woven and tied to a frame
work composed OF two upright sticks,
with ridge pole, four corner sticks. and
bamboo rafters. The dress OF the natives
usually consists of q small piece OF cloth
tied about the loins; though different
tribes have many customs in the manner
of dress. Many 60 naked. with the ex-
ceptiOn. perhaps. of string of beads
around the neck, waist, and ankles.
Others wear heavy bands OF iron or trass
about the neck. wrists, and ankles. while
some wear q long strip of native-made
or traders cloth. tied by the corners
over one shoulder, passing under the
arm on the opposite side. hanging loosely.
and leaving one side OF the body absolute
ly naked. Kings, queens. and their fami-
lies usually cover their nakedness, though
it is not always the case. As rule. how
ever, they wrap themselves in large
piece of cloth or the skins of some ami
NAL. Traders cloth is gradually finding
its way to the interior, but the natives
make grass cloth which is far better
than any they can buy from the trader.
Tribes along the coast wear more cloth
than the Sc of the interior, though the prin-
cipal use which is made of cloth is at the
time of death, when the body is wrapped
up in cloth (the savings of a litetime) and
buried. Hundreds of yards are thus con-
sumed. The missionaries claim to have
established schools and to be actively en-
gagged in educating young children.
This is not true, in fact, of the mis- iona
ries in the valley of the Congo. The mis-
sionaries do take small children for their
servants; they feed them and clothe them
CATER manner) and attempt to inculcate
within them spirit Of religion; but /
have yet to see Congo man, woman. or
child with whom the missionaries have
made any progress. The French Catholic
mission at Gaboon, on the coast, is the
only mission which can lay ella m to hav
ing accomplished anything. There they
are instructing boys in the art of agricul.
ture.
AS to the general intelligence of the
people, there is very little difference be-
tween them. They are, however, shrewd.
cunning, though thoroughly unprincipled
people. The tribes around and above
Stanley Pool are perhaps superior to those
of the low land certainly they surpass
the people of the low country in treachery
and cruelty; and doubt whether any
thing can be done to inspire them with a
wish even to become educated. They do
not know what it means. Their mode of
lite and their everyday surroundings can
not be changed. The population is too
great. and as they live now SO they have
lived for ages past. Their morals are of
the lowest type.
Gold, silver. or paper money is wholly
unknown. the currency of the country be-
ing gin, glass beads, brass rods, red cot
ton handkerchief, trade cloth, powder,
and flint lock guns. With these articles
one can buy ones way through the coun-
try or purchase the native products, such
as rubber, ground-nuts, palm nuts. ivory,
etc., and with the same CURRENCY one paws
the wages OF and buys food for caravan,
buys slaves. or anything which may be
offered for sale by the natives. OF this
variegated currency gin is the most valu-
able; indeed. it may be truly said that lit
is worth its weight in gold"
Commercially speaking, cannot see
where or how it is possible to create a
paying business in the up country. 1t is a
rare thing that trading caravan comes to
any point on the Congo from the remote
interior. Small caravans do come to
Bona. Noki, and to Mpozo. occasionally,
but they are made up from the immediate
surrounding country. There is no avail
able timber, there is no stone, the country
is one vast region of sand and clay hills /;
hence everything must come from Europe.
The climate of the Congo country.
especially that portion of it below Stanley
Pool. is bad, and but few white men are
enabled to remain any great length of
time without contracting one or more of
the terrible diseases which prevail A bill
ious or pernicious fever is most to be
dreaded. and is usually attended with
fatal results. 1t comes upon one
suddenly, and unless Immediately
checked assumes the phase of yellow
fever, causing death in two or three days
and oftentimes within a few hours. The
mortality among the white men who have
engaged to serve the International Asso-
citation has been something fearful. I
have never known anything TO compare to
it in any other country. The newcomer
is sure to be attacked with dysentery or
small levers very soon after arrival 10 the
country; not one escapes. These latter
diseases readily yield to medical treat
ment or are overcome by an immediate
change of climate. which is obtained BY
sending the patient to the sea-shore or to
the cool country of Lower Angola; but
the pernicious fever generally terminates
fatally From HE Investigations NJ 7 g