Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-26
SOME NEW F0UNDP EOPLE
4 Tribe of Long Haired Blacks in the
Centre of Africa.
When Shall the Wonders of Ethiopia
Be Solved.


turned to Brussels, bringing full details
OF the trip by steamer for ninety-nine
days On the Mobangi river. The expedi-
ton proved that the Mobangi is identi-
cal with the Welle- Makua river, and is,
therefore, the greatest northern tributary
OF the Congo. It settled the question of
the destination of the Welle-Makau, which
for years was believed by many geograph-
ers to flow into Lake Tchad. The ex-I
plorers found one of the most fertile and
popuious regions OF Central Africa, and
they met some remarkable tribes, whose
peculiarities distinguish them from any
other people yet discovered in the dark
continent. LIE Movement GeographiQue
prints the report OF Captain Van Gele
and interesting details added by Lieuten-
ant Lienart.
On October % last the expedition COM
posed Of four white men and ffty-seven
native boatmen and soldiers, left Equator
station, on the Congo, and started up the
Mobango in the little steamer En- Avant,
the first vessel launched on the Upper
Congo. The steamer had in tow native
war canoe with q capacity OF loo men, on
which part of the expedition was quar-
tered. About $50 miles up the river they
reached the Congo rapids, the furthest
point adtainedby Grentell, and there their
explorations began. In the next thirty
miles they passed e series of five rapids,
at two OF which they were compelled to
take the machinery out OF their vessel,
unship the paddle wheels. and drag her
with great difficulty on rollers over land.
Three weeks were required TO pass these
rapids, above which the broad, ma estic
river did not offer single noteworthy OBJ
struction in the 200 Remaining miles Of
tAe ascent. The country, writes Captain
Van Gele, is very beautiful. The river,
which for long stretches is over a mile in
width, with an average depth OF twenty
zeet, is bordered by high hills, on whose
gantle slopes are huts which in the dis
lance have the appearance of chOlets.
Here and there are seen in the branches
of lofty cottonwood trees, buildings made
of branches and grass which are used
merely as posts of observation, and which
doubtless gave rise to the romantic rum
ors Grentell brought home of aerial dwell
ings on the upper Mobangj. The first
new tribe the explorers discovered were
the Bakombe, who are said to extend over
large region between the Mobangi and
Congo.
all the black races of Africa for their un-
usual growth of hair, which many Of them
arrange in the form of large chignous.
Others wear their hair down their backs
in many long thin braids, which are fire.
quently fastened together. Captain Van
Gele makes the surprising statement that
he saw some persons with hair nearly five
feet long. Lieutenant Lienart said he saw
some women who tied their long braids
around their arms, and that this remark
able custom did not inconvenience them
at all as they engaged in their usual oc-
equations. No such abundant head Gov
erings have been found among any other
tribes IN Africa.
For about 40 miles, midway between
four degrees and five degrees north lati-
tude of the big bend of the Congo, the
river flows almost due west and Lew tribes
are met along the banks. Captain Van
Gele calls this stretch of the Mobangi
valley the most fertile and populous part
of Africa ne has visited. ''Ihave not seen
elsewhere" he writes, ''such an affiuence
of provisions. Everywhere are endless
supplies of bananas, maize flour, sorghum,
sweet potatoes, arachides, yams, beans,
sugar cane, sesamum. tobacco, honey,
sheep, goats and fowls. My men had
poultry in the pot every day. Our boat
was sometimes loaded down with presents
of food and throughout the journey did
not touch one of the sacks of rice that
had taken with me from the equator
Here the river is at its widest, and it is
thickly dotted with islands, all inhabited
and under cultivation. Conical huts, like
those among some tribes of the Upper
Welle- Makua, begin to appear like thou
SANDS. They are grouped in villages,
sometimes forming wide streets that are
very neatly kept and again built IL large
circles in the centre of which is high |
mound of earth from which their speakers |
address the popuI0us assemblages. The
largest OF these tribes is the Banzy, who |
as workers in iron ore equaled by few |
American tribes. Their iron products |
are noteworthy for their great variety and |
superior workmanship. They make lance |
and arrow heads, barpocns, axes, hoes,
spades, knives, bracelets, chains, pipe
bowls, beads, little bells and many other
articles. They are also skillfuI workers
Il ivory, and everywhere the explorers
Jaw artistically turned ivory bracelets and
pins foot long. The Banzy is the only
ribe found il Central Africa whose
yomen deface their upper lip by the in
ertion of the pelele, practice that is
cry common among the tribes east end
outh of Nyessa.
These large tribes for about $50 miles
long the river we're very friendly, though
hey had never seen white men before.
hey were frightened neither by the
teamer nor by the shots that were often
red at the ducks and other game in the
tream. Often fleets OF thirty or forty
anoes would paddle out TO the steamer ,
fering food for sale. at the town of the ,
cad chief in the Banzy tribe another
apid barred the way and il was necessary
D tow the steamer up stream by means
a stout cable. TIE natives gathered
y thousands to watch the operation.
hey pointed out spots where dangerous L
1cks lurked under the surface. They t
auled in their fish nets that we're in the :
az, and laid hold of the cable with right i
Ood while the fetico mel on the bank C
lade favorable invocations. When the 4
q AVant was safely past the rapids the I
atiyes raised enthusiastic cheers, and b
any of them shook hands with the Eu- L
,peans, and felicitated them upon their b
lccess. &
The most striking contrasts are found
nopg African tribes who live almost side 7
? side. 4 year before, Wissman was h
citing his way through the savage Ii
atetela tribe south of the Congo, who, e,
says, are as suspicious as wild beasts, ht
Id he can compare them with nothing e
1t savage dogs. Van Gele, too, had q,
ached the end of his peaceful advance, K
Id he was now destined TO make his way U
r seventy miles further up the Mabapgi, p
? nliy Ilehaced anu e la5t attacked hi
A6otS VI war canoes. Inc m0ubOngO ST