St. Paul daily globe., 1885-08-30


to the present time the gun has been used
only to make a noise with to frighten away
bad spirits or to assist the spirit of a de-
parted friend. AS rule these people are
cruel and treacherous and thieving set
The villages are inclosed by stockades from
six to twelve feet high, with but one en-
trance, which Is closely guarded to prevent
surprise by an attacking party. The houses
or hutS in which the people live are built of
reeds and grass tightly woven and tied TO a
framework composed of two up
right sticks with ridge pole, four
corner sticks, and bamboo rafter
From six to twelve people occupy hut,
and as a rule sleep on the bare ground. The
dress of the natives usually consists of a
small piece of cloth tied about the loins.
Many go naked, with only a string of beads
around the wrists, neck, waist and ankles.
Kings, queens, and their families generally
cover their nakedness, though it is not
always the case. Ornaments are worn by
the women in great profusion. Each tribe
has its distinguishing tattoo or tribal mark,
generally on some part of the face, and
sometimes tattooed on the breast and back
The women paint profusely. Some paint
their bodies white, and others use a mixture
of red clay and palm oil. The women usu-
ally have luXuriant growths of hair. which
is twisted and braided into every cOnceiv-
able shape. Mr.. TIsDEL says he doubts if
such artistic hair work can be produced in
any other part of the world.
Education, in any sense of the word, is
wholly unknown. The natives are like
brutes and seem TO have no idea above the
brute creation. There are occasional eX-
ceptions where here and there are found
persons who show signs of intelligence, and
display more or less shrewdneSs in barter
and trade. Mr.. TIsDEL denies the state
ment that the missionaries have succeeded
II est ablishing any schools in the Congo
country. He says the missionaries do take
small children for their servants, feed them,
clothe them, and after a manner attempt to
inculcate within them spirit of religion.
But he did not find Congo man or woman
with whom the missionaries had made any
progress. He does not believe anything
can be done to inspire them with wish TO
be educated. Their morals are of the
lowest type. They have no regard
for virtue, and their immoral practices
place them quite as low as the apes and
monkeys. AS they live now they have
lived for ages, and Mr.. TIsDEL does not
think it possible ever to change their mode
of life. They have no gold, silver or paper
money, the currency of the country being
gin, glass beads, brass rods, red cotton
handkerchiefs, powder and flint-lock guns.
This currency buys the native pro-
ducts, such as rubber, ground nuts, palm
nuts and ivory. The population is not so
dense between Vivi and Stanley Pool as it
is in the low country and on the far upper
river, yet there are vast numbers TO be
found and how they manage TO exist at all
is wonder. They are not meat-eating
people, and subSist almost entirely upon
ground nuts and chiquanga, which latter is
the ground mandiOca mixed with fermented
palm tree sap and sun-baked. Very little
game is to be found in the country, and
such as there is the people are not capable
of taking If white man shoots an ele-
phant the natives will swarm around the
carcass by hundreds and feast to then
hearts content Goats and fowls they
rarely ever eat, Teserving them for trade,
and oftentimes they send them hundreds of
miles to exchange for gin or powder; as a
rule, however. they send them to the open
market or to the stations of the African In
ternational association. In the low coun-
tries wild berries and native fruits. in addi-
tiOn to the ground nuts and chiquanga, CON
stitute the food.
Each king or chief owns thousands oi
slaves, and while slaves are not exported &
regular slave trade is kept up among the
native tribes.
Mr.. TIsDEL does not see an encouraging
trade outlook. Commercially speaking, he
does not see when or how it is possible tC
create paying business in the up country
Nothing could be made to pay the cost of
transportation out of the country. The
country is hilly and, for the most part
sterile. Fertile patches are found here and
there in close proximity to the villages, but
not cultivated. Where attempts have been
made to cultivate the soil, invariably tn,
elephant and hippopotamus come upon tn,
scene to devour or trample out vegetation
The climate is bad, and but few whit,
people can remain any length of time with.
out contracting one or more of the terrible
fevers which prevail.
From Agent TIsDEL's report it is hare
rto understand where or how the expecta
tions of those who are identified with tn,
making of great free state' in equato
ial Africa are to be realized. Mr.. TIsDEI
is the only commissioner from any country
who has ever visited the Congo valley,
and as his unprejudiced statements differ
so materially from other statements which
have been published from time to time. his
report will be read with interest. In eX-
PLANTATION why this condition of affairs on the
Congo has not been made public before Mr..
TIsDEL appends to his report copy of the
contract which the International associa-
tion makes with its agents and employees.
in which it is stipulated that they shall not
furnish to any zone any scientific or COM
mercial information about the country ex-
plored, or make known the projects of
the association, its researches, or the re-
suits obtained. 1t really looks as if Gov.
Sir FRANCIS DEWILToN had a very barren
state over which to preside.
WIFE-BEATING.
The wayward bard of Avon, who stands
as the acknowledged high priest and inter
preter of the mysteries the sorroWs and