The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-10-03
A Frightened Chief.

Among the stories which Stanley tells
in ''The Congo" is this 'sOn one occasion
he was satisfied that the chief whom he had
just met intended treachery, and as the
African came daily to the camp with con-
stantly increasing bodies of armed men, he
resolved to teach him a lesson. When he
thought the native plot was ripe for execu-
ton he concealed all the forces of the ex
pedition about the camp andAwaited an
expected visit The chief came, accompa-
MED by his usual train, and all seated tliem
selves for a palaver. The subject of this
was the design of Stanley to pass through
his country, while he was equally deter
mined that the whites should not. The
meeting was stormy, but wound up with
no outbreak, but evidently to the great dis
satisfaction of the chief When passing
out of the tent he spied the gong which
was used in the camp for giving signals, as
is drum among soldiers The chief in
quired what it was, and was told that it
was war fetish. He insisted that it should
be struck, but was told that if that were
done armed men would arise from every
quarter He still insisted
"With all my force l 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 ex-
treme, but as the rapid strokes were applied
vigorously the continued sound seemed to
them like thunder They had not recov-
cred from the first shock of establishment
when the forms of men were seen bound
ing over the gunwale of the boat, right
over their heads, and war-whooping in their
ears. From my tent and from the gorge
behind them stream of frantic infuriates
emerged as though from the earth. The
store tent was violently agitated and finally
collapsed, and yelling crowd of demonaic
madmen sprang out one after the other,
everyone apparently madden than his neigh
bors. The listless, sleepy-eyed stragglers
burst out into a perfect frenzy of action.
From under the mats In the huts there
streamed into view such frantic mob of
armed men thatto the panic-stricken natives
the sky and earth seemed to be contributing
to the constantly increasing numbers of
Lively IIdblNG PRES
ent, would-be friend and would-be foe, lost
his senses completely; the seated warriors
forgottheir guns and fled before this strange
deluge and awful scene. The ammunition
bearers threw their gourds away; some were
broken and the powder and slugs scattered
on the ground, and as Ngalyema was stand
ing, paralyzed with fear and with his facul-
ties benumbed, l seized him by the arm
and said softly to him BE not afraid; re-
member Bula Matari is your brother.
Stand behind me- | will protect you.
The Zanzibaris were now yelling crowd
in front of me, calling out tauntingly and
menacingly: 'Ha, ha, Ngalyema You
came to fight Bula Matari Where are
your warriors, Ngalyema? There could
not be better representation of relentless,
bloodthirsty fury than that which was
shown by these amateur black actors in the
suddenly improvised scene. Their assumed
frenzy was the next thing TO reality. Had
I 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 Enjell chung to his father and fol
lowed his movements, reminded me of the
long-forgotten 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 lying about, and the
play was well acted. Attention! fall in 7
called out the captains, 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
fall in mute surprise at the sudden trans
formation, took hold of his hands and
said We'll, what do you think of the white
mans fetish?' 'Ah, | was not afraid, was
II See, all my people have run away
All, such braves! But tell me, Bula Ma
tart, where did all these people come from? 2
'Ah, that is the bad fetish l told you of.
Do you want to see any more? Come, |
will strike the fetish again, and the next
scene will be still more wonderful. What 7
he screamed NO, no, don't touch it,
Verify, that must be bad fetish, he said,
gravely, as he looked at the round, innocent
face of the gong"