Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-09-10
A FRIGHTENED CHIEF.
Ssnnleyss Account OF Hiss Way or
Soaring an African King.

stanIey's Account or HIs way or
Soaring an African king.
Among the stories which Stanley tells
in The Congo is this: Son one occa-
sion he was satisfied that the chief whom
be had just met intended treachery, and
as the African came daily to the camp
with constantly increasing bodies Of
armed men, he resolved to teach him a
lesson. When he thought the native
plot was ripe for execution he concealed
all the forces of the expedition about the
camp and awaited an expected visit
The chief came, accompanied BY mis-
usual train, and all seated themselvesfo for
palaver. The subject Of this was the
design of Stanley to pass through his
country, while he was equally determined
that the whites should not. The meet
ing was stormy, but wound up with no
open outbreak, but evidently TO the great
dissatisfaction Of the chief. When pass
ing out Of the tent he spied the gong
which was used in the camp for giving
signals as is a drum among soldiers.
The chief inquired what it was, and was
told that it was war fetish. He in
sisted that it should be struck, but was
told that if it were done armed men
would arise from every quarter. He still
insisted.
With all my force struck the gong
the loud bell-like tone sounding in the
silence caused by the hushed attention
of all upon the scene, was startling in
the extreme, but as the rapid strokes
were applied vigorously the continued
sound seemed to them like thunder.
They had not recovered from the first
shock Of establishment when the forms
of men were seen bounding over the gun
vale of the boat, right over their heads,
and war whooping in their ears. From
my tent and from the gorge behind them
a stream of frantic infuriates emerged as
though from the earth. The store tent
was violently agitated and finally col
lapsed, and yelling crowd Of demoniac
madmen sprang out one after the other,
everyone apparently madder than his
neighbors. The istless. sleepy eyed
stragglers burst out into perfect frenzy
of action. From under the mats in the
huts there streamed into view such a
frantic mob of armed men that to the
panic stricken natives the sky and the
earth seemed to be contributing to the
constantly increasing numbers of death
dealing warriors. Every native present,
would be friend and would be foe, lost his
senses completely; the seated warriors
forgot their guns and fed before this
strange deluge and awful scene. The
ammunition-bearers threw their gourds
away; some were broken and the powder
aud slugs scattered on the ground, and as
Ngalyema was standing, paralYzed with
fear and with his faculties benumbed,
l seized him by the arm and said softly
to him: BE not afraid; remember Bula
Matari is your brother. Stand behind me.
I will protect you.' The Zanzibaris were
now yelling crowd in front Of me, cali
ing out tauntingly and menacingly
'Ha, Ha, Ngalyema. You came to fight
Bula Matari. Where are your warriors,
Ngalyema9' There could not be better
representation of relentless, blood -thisrty
fury than that which was shown by these
amateur black actors in the suddenly i'm
provised scene. Their assumed frenzy
was the next thing to reality. Had
not been in the secret, should also have
been duped; while the valor with which
defended my poor brother, who, with
his two hands, grasped me round the
waist, danced from side to side to avoid
furious strokes from the wild-eyed men,
while young Engeli clung to his father
ard followed his movements, reminded
me Of the long-forgotton play of hen and
chickens. But the camp was emptied Of
our visitors, much..of the ammunition was
strewn on the ground, the guns were ly-
ing about, and the play was well acted.
Attention. fall imp called out the cap
tains, and the well trained fellows fell
into line at shoulder arms with all the
precision of well-trained veterans. Then
as Ngalyema allowed his hands to fal
in mute surprise at the sudden transfer
nation, l took hold of his hands and
said: well, what do you think Of the
white mans fetish7' 'Ah, I was moi
afraid, was II See, all my people have
run away. All, such bravesl But tel
me, Bula Matari, where did all these
people come fromG' 'Ah, that is the
bad fetish told you of. Do You wan
to see any morea Come, viii strike the
fetish again, and the next scene win b
still more wonderful 'What' ht
screamed. No, no, don't touch it.
Verify, that must be bad fetish, HI
said graveIy, as he looked at the round
innocent face the gong"
Bee-Hunting Toads.