Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-07-13
TANNING rHe NATIVES
The Congo State Enforcing Law and Ora.
Among Barbarians.

Among Barbarians.
On January ii last Lieutenant Ia.
men. commissioner of the District :,
Banana, heasl-.hat the wife and chill
OF native, " were journeyino =
Cabinda with goods he had received in
payment for services as an interpreter
had been robbed, tied to a tree, ana
were about to be sent into the inter;os
and sold as slaves. All this happenod
at Sancito, village in the large ter
ritory governed by the Princess M Bat.
Her chief town, Moanda, is only about
nine miles from Banana, and thitba.
Mr.. PREM, an officer of the State. w.s
sent early next morning to investigats
the matter. He went unarmed. and
had with him only few porters and
the aggrieved interpreter. He wss
taken inside palisade of bambooS
and shown into one of the royal build.
ings. He sent word to the Princess
that he had come for palaver, and
she soon appeared, clad in red and
white cloths of Europe, and wearing
linen headdress. Her feet were bare
and she wore around her neck a mum.
Der of silver bands, some of them worth
$15 apiece. The Princess said She
could not begin the palaver until all
her chiefs were assembled. The
time for the interview was fixed
for some hours later, and when
the Princess next appeared she was
surrounded by the ten tributary chiefs
of her district, each carrying baton
studded with brass nails as an emblem
of authority. They wore the skins Of
wild beasts around their waists, and
many fetiches depended from their
necks. Each had with him an inter
prefer and one other person as escort
The Princess seated herself upon amat
and said to the white man: Nov tell
me what you wish"
The name which all the natives ap-
ply to the Governor of the Congo State
is Boula Matari, the name they first
gave to Stanley. II come as the rep.
resentative of Boula Matari," said Mr..
PREM, ito talk with you because YOU
are the chief of all this territory. Can
you tell me if Boula Matari has ever
arrested one of your people who has
done no wrongP"
"Why do you ask me thatP" inquired
M'Bata. II am the friend of Boula
Matari."
ANSWER my question:" said the
white man, land then / will tell YOU
why l ask it."
IF Boula Matari arrested one of nv
people who had not done wrong" said
the Princess, sit would not be just"
VERY well. Now listen. Here il
my interpreter. While his wife and
child were returning to their country
with the fruits of their labor they were
robbed and made captive by your PEG.
pie. Is that justP'
All the circums tances were detailed
and then the Princess, turning to her
chiefs, cried in an irritated voice. INV
subjects have arrested these strangers
and l did not know it.; and they be-
longed to Boula Matari. Go quickly
and find this woman and the child
and you, white man, do not leave us
until they have been brought here"
Two or three chiefs rushed away to
the village, where the woman and
child had been seized. " lille await
ing their return M Bata said that she
would obey the laws of the Congo
State and that she recognized its au
thority over her territory, because it
had been founded for the good of the
natives and its laws were just Several
hours later the chiefs returned with
the news that the captives had been
taken to another village, and that they
could not be restored to the wronged
husband till the next morning.
Next day the chiefs came to Banana
with the woman and child, and the
goods taken from them were returned
The chiefs then, in the name of the
Princess, made a new declaration
submission to the State and agreed to
conform to its laws. They added that
the next time Boula Matari came to H
Banana the Princess and chiefs would M
come in person to pay their respects
lie MouUement Geographique.