The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-04
PRINCESS YIELA: AN AFRICAN EPISODE

dwells a negro tribe which offers strange
contrasts 10 its neighbors. Whereas, in
similarity with other savage races, the
women OF the majority OF the negro tribes
represent so much real property-so many
goods and chattels-to their owners, 10 be
bullied, sold, and even killed and eaten, at
tho sweet will OF their possessors, the con-
trary custom obtains in the main with that
tribe with whom this episode in my rowing
life Is connected. In other tribes the fe-
male portion OF the community are the
beasts OF burden and the common labores,
while their lords and masters lounge at
their ease. Morally they are helpless.
crushed and callous race, appearing to
live merely for the sake Of living, and just
70 satisfy the animal appetite for life.
Physically they have no beauty OF form;
their figures are stunted and ugly, some
tunes to responsiveness To an outsider
only one purely human instinct seems to
belong to them. OF their children they
are intensely fond, and lavish an astonish-
ing amount Of affection on them-ailec-
ton that Is almost capable Of self-sacrifce.
But even she bears and lionesses do us
much.
In the midst OF these tribes, and in
strong contrast with them, dwells another
powerful and populous tribe, whose rulers
are selected from the female population.
II is governed by Queen and female
chiefs, to whom the males are subordi-
nate, which probably accounts for the not
: altogether unbecoming henpecked appear
ance that the latter wear On the one
side there is absolutely subsection OF body
and soul-an offering OF passive and UNI
questioning obedience on the part of the
subject female portion. Like dumb ami
mails they accept their lot without muir
muir, and apparently without desire or
dream that II might be possible TO better
IT, Suggestions OF amelioration would
awaken neither hope nor despair, would
not even bewilder them. but would be re-
parlcd as the fancies Of mailman. On
the other side, though there is the oppo-
rite of all this, the position is not one OF
absolute security. II is clear the ruling
powers detect or suspect the existence OF a
possible feeling Of protestation ON the part
Of their male subjects, and wisely, there
fore, do not accept their position as
inviolable. They never relax their
efforts TO maintain its security by making
constant exhibitions Of their capacity and
by taking advantage OF every opportunity
that would cause their social superiority 70
be felt--not by any abuse OF power, but by
HNhAs' BttcoaAo ata plltAAuiN
And yet they need stand in little fear Of
rebellion, for there is no conservative like
the African negro. These people are too
tenacious Of custom TO attempt to overturn
anything that has become habitual. Still,
for all this, some underlined fear, some
doubt Of the security OF their position,
must have existed when no opportunity
that would be effective toward making the
so-called lords OF creation conscious OF
their inferior position was neglected by
their female rulers Whatever his sphere
OF fisherman, warrior handicraftsman
he was increasingly overlooked, and II
Appeared 10 be an instructive feeling on tho
female side that the reign OF feminine
power would be short one II this activity
were once relaxed.
After the many types OF female degrada-
ton elsewhere, u was more interesting 10
traveller 10 come among them. II was no
frcshing TO gaze on their fresh, animated
faces, not without traces OF beauty, even
accordingto the European Standard their
1.-the figures, graceful ms only the human
figure can be graceful that develops after
the true order Of nature, and unhampcred
by artificial restrictions. Like Eve bcforc
the fall, they are naked and not ashamed.
Ancient Greek women clothed their bodies
uuODtu iuAlhOutob Ny ulOutfu fu-
ropcan women, who, in order 10 escape
this charge, hide theirs, though both fell
into the inevitable temptation to highten
effect by suggestion. But the negro savage
neither clothes nor conccals her form. and
yet withal docs not lack modesty. II
needs an intercourse with these people,
whom Europeans call sayages, and who
lead the lives OF healthy animals, 10 dis
cover that modesty is less a principle oil
education than natural instinct II Il
civilization only that produces the woman
who Is modest because she has no beauty.
Their tribe Is large aud scattered one
OF domcsticated, peaceful, and industrious
people, who, though we'll able TO defend
their own interests by fighting for them
do not live by war and pillagc Their vii
lagos are dotted along the banks Of lary'
inland river In wcll-choson positions; eacl
little cluster OF low, oval-roofed gras
huts, forming, against background o
wavy banana and graceful palm trees
pleasant little variations 10 the monoton,
OF the river banks. There Is a busy ant
important atmosphere around these lttlI
towns, very Different from the air Of gen
cral stagnation and laziness pcrvading TN
villages Of other tribes. II Is the grea
canoc-making tribe OF tho equatoria
ltNluus anu IN toUtfuNN W tUt
tribes might be compared 10 that OF larg'
manufacturing district In our own LAM
with sleepy country village. The canoe
arc OF all sizes, with carrying capacity 70
from two 10 fifty persons and are mad
from whole trunks OF trees followed on
first by the action OF FIRE, and laboriousl,
finished of aiterward with n PRIMITIVE
tool, half AZ, half chiscl. Equally wei
adapted TO speed rapidly over smootl
water or 10 shoot swirllng rapid wher
heavier and more elaborate craft woul
come 10 grief, these canoes bear evidenc
of great skill both In manufacture and con
irivance. The usual mode Of propclln
them Is by.means OF long-bladed paddles
the boatmen standing up and striking IN
water with steady and regularly swcepln
strokes, bending their bodies 70 the tim
81 the unmnsical taps on tom-tom or IN
droning monotony Of n native song.
At one Of these villages standing mit
way between the tribal borders, the pos
ton Of which showed more than usual car
and foresight In the selection OF localit,
picture an appearance Of unusual CONNIE
ton among is inhabitants. That som
news Of extraordinary moment had bee
received and was aKtating the minds Of a
vas clear. The canoe makers had left o
chipping, and were talking eagerly wit
the spearinan Of the tribe, with excite
gestures and rapid speech. Little grouI
of chiefs, some with their babies slung
their backs In the Observation-Disclosures