The Mineral argus., 1885-01-29
The KrOOnlen.

And now something about my fell
Iow-passencers, the KrOOmen, whose
presence on the Nile at this juncturo
forms an interesting episode in this ex-
petition, writes correspondent Ut
Thc Lirerpooi Post. The day before we
were to start. Maj. Smyth. the senior
officer in charge Of the men. had gone
on to Wady Halfa with 500 Ut them
leaving Maj. Tyndalc to bring up the
men remaining at Shellal to aid IN get.
ting up the Nile boats, or ''wharvers.
as they are technically called. The
major part Of our lot were on barge
lowed by the Fayum, and one man in
each OF the twenty four whalcrs we
took in tow. In getting the latter to-
gether and past three steamers before
thew were made fast TO the stern OF the
barge We were to tow up. these black
skinned bOatmen gave me an cxhibi-
ton Of their skill. The twenty-fOur
whalcrs were dashed two together. and
a tow.line was passed down six of the
pairs Of boats, and up the other six.
each line being made fast To the barge.
This brought the squadron four
abreast. Awkward as such string
of boats must have been to manage in
4 strong current il was plotted outside
the three steamers named without
Jolt or br,,ise. and in the quietest man
ner. The agility and experience thus
shown by the Kroomen augurcd well
for their usefulness in the work they
had come so far to do. A number Of
men occupied the forward deck Of
the steamer, giving me an opportunity
Of observing the men more closely.
I obtained from Maj. Tyndale many
interesting facts relative to getting the
men -on the west coast Ut Africa.
and his and Maj. Smythe's early ex-
pericncc with them. The president Ut
the republic Of Liberia refused permis-
sion to recruit in his territory. as the
policy Of the republic " as against war.
like expeditions. The men obtained
came from Sierra Leone. MonrOvia.
Grand Bassa. Bereby, Half Bcreby.
Taboo river, and Grand Taboo. The
men were engaged for six months or
longer, for boat service only, their pay
being. head man. IS. Cd. per day; Sec
ond head man. shillings. and pri-
Yates I shilling per day. When first
engaged. saving cloth around their
loins, they were naked. The first day
out each man was supplied with ma
val rig-OUt, one jumper. one jersey.
two flannel shirts. two pairs OF trousers
and cloth cap. all dark blue. The men
wore their clothes as il they had been
used to them all their days, and when
they got them they were particular to
have them properly marked. Whether
in the garments Of the white man they
were DESTROYS Of acquiring his color
also did not ascertain. but. il wash
ing could accomplish it. they ran ev-
cry chance Of success. ] never went
forward among them without finding
some two or three Of them stark ma
ked. lathering themselves all over and
scrubbing away most earnestly. The
funniest thing. however. WAS their
names. 1t was necessary for them to
sign an agreement. and also for their
names to be entered ON the pay-list.
Their own outlandish names were al
most unpronOunceab!e. as Maj. Tyn-
dale told me. As an illustration. he
called aft several Of the men
and made them repeat to me
their African cognOmens. One said
he was called something which sound.
ed like ..Oolah" and ''Wadah." and
the rest '.Kakana, ""Dwa," 'Dabwa,"
oud gu forth Many Of the men had
a aira. ~ ,;,hor ,Jon;ed names or been
ao ,ham, h., sa;,nrs ~ Tho vosscls
s.s ',;no ."a n III, ~ ..nas,s Thes. wcrs
', na%h ~, y" o,,ors s had ,n no ;nvan,cj for
u.s., USE" ~. H." I""r;n, o,.r ,hs lis, I
s snu 1850. ".,'', ,ha ,,a,nas ,ho fojInw;ng.
1 T"ama, ''' IL, III" Peter lin Geor%e.
eaPot -" - IL Rnn"v,rn 81,
S S,,s Tow va" Tw"'Gl,ss Sea. Breeze.
To.H n o.. L. iacL 10