The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1888-06-23
Rival of Haggard.s "she."
London Letter. in New York Times,

Rival OF Haggafd's "She."
London Letter. in New York Times.
One has often heard of the mythical
old man of the mountains, but it
would seem there Is q veritable old
woman of the mountains more terri
BILE thatehe. met the other day Mr..
H., her majesty's consul at Zanzibar,
on the east coast of Africa, who told
me the following tale OF this redoubt-
able person, which well nigh outriv-
ais Mr.. Rider Haggard's "She." Mr..
H.'s jurisdiction extends over an area
of 1000 miles, all of which he is sup
posed to visit in his official capacity.
Lying toward the interior of the
country is q range of impregnable
mountains, over which reigns su-
preme rich and powerful queen
Kabutu, by name. So terrible is her
reputation and so greatly feared is she
by the natives far and wide that she is
never called by her rightful appella-
ton, but is designated as "The
Woman Who Lives Over There"
with wave of the arm toward the
frowning hills. This queen has two
sons, who rule provinces under her to
the north and south. She is particu-
larly antagonistic to white men, re-
garding them not only with abhor-
renee, but with an implacable hatred,
clubbing them as monsters, wizards
and dealers in magic. And so we'll is
her warlike attitude toward them
understood that no white man has
ever dared to penetrate into her pres
ence, or, indeed, desired to do so, since
instant death is the least evil that
would follow ON his temerity. Mr..
H., however, was determined to inter-
view this queen of the mountains. He
therefore started inland with a strong
guard and twenty interpreters. 1t
was long four days. march through
the jungle before he reached the out
lying territory on the south, over
which reigned the son of this terrible
monarch. This king, being of more
pacific nature and possessed of coz
siderable curiosity, consented to re-
receive the white wizard, and even
went so far as to say he would speak
good word for him to the awful
kabutu, and, thus encouraged, the
consul proceeded on his way. But
after another days journey his inter-
prefer came to him in great perturba-
ton and told him they had received
secret warning from some friendly
natives that Kabutu was preparing to
greet them in her own peculiar royal
style-a dungeon for Mr.. H., with
perpetual imprisonment to be termin-
ated only with execution, and the slave
stakes and torture for his servants
and guards. On hearing these san
culinary prophesies thirty-two of his
men at once deserted and fed, prefer
ring possible death in the trackless
jungles to falling into the hands of
1.-The Woman Who Lives Over
There
Mr.. III. was thus rendered almost
detenseless, and, though knowing
himself to be in the greatest danger,
dared not show the least fear or APP
prehension. He prepared to push on
further, and would undoubtedly have
fallen victim to Kabutu's cruelty
had not messenger arrived secretly
from the friendly son entreating him
to go no further, and saying that his
mothers rage and fury at the white
monsters presumption knew no
bounds; she was already gloating
over the varied forms of torture
wherewith to punish him. He fur
Their offered, at the risk of his own
crown, to have Mr.. H. conducted back
in safety; but the journey must be
performed at night and with the
greatest circumspection. Taking all
things into consideration, Mr.. III. de-
cided to accept the friendly kings
offer, and quietly moved off and out
OF the dangerous neighborhood. His
way lay for miles and miles through
dense jungles and morasses before the
borders of civilization were reached.
The ferocious Kabutu still remains
unvanquished and unseen by the
white man; but Mr.. H., who returns
to his consulate in August, intends in
October to push his way into the
presence of the terrible one. In those
delightful regions pounds and pence
are unknown and of no value, the ac-
cepted currency being beads, handker-
chiefs, and colored lines; and 30 par
ticular and fussy are the native mon
DANES that to offer a bead of last
years color, or calico of last years
dye, is dire ofense and of about as
much good as bag of stones would
be. Da reste, the climate is charm
ing, the verdure perpetual, and nox-
loas insects are unknown.