The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-01-21
AN AFRICAN CHIEF.
HE SUCCESSFULLY D1FTEs THE PoRTU-
GCEsE EXPLo iERs.

1t is just thirty years since Liv-
ingstone first told.English readers of
the famous rebel chief Bonga, who
for over four decades has defied the
Portuguese in his stronghold on the
Zambesl. The story that Living
stone began and others continued
has been brought down to the pres
ent by Mr.. Durand, who, during
his recent travels in the Zambesi,
visited The home of this redoubtable
African.
On any good map of Africa the
name of Bonga is found, indicating
this chiefs settlement on the Fam
best. There for over forty years he
has held his ground within twenty
five miles of Tete, the chef settle
ment of the Portuguese in the interior
of East Africa. When Livingstone
journeyed down the Zambesi he
looked up at the heights crowned
BY Bonga's big village, and it seem
ed to him that it was incloscd by q
paliscde of growing timber. He
was doubtless mistaken in this idea,
but he was correct in his opinion
that the place was too strong to be
conquered by the cannon with which
the Portuguese tried to take it.
Bonga's father was half-breed
OF East lndian-African parentage,
who in 1910 held a petty office
under the Portuguese. One day he
was arrested on the charge of steal
ing cartridges and taken to Mozam-
blque where he died. This incident
was the cause of the long feud that
has made Bonga thorn in the flesh
TO the Portuguese. He fed up the
Lambesi, rallied to his support q
body of malcontents and escaped
slaves, and has ever since main
tanned his independence in large
district claimed by his white
enemies. Portugal has sent three
expeditions against him, and in the
last attack Bonga's village was bonn
barded for three days and nights
without breaking down the strong
wall of timbers that surround the
big town. By that time the Portu-
guese had found an excellent reason
for abandoning the siege, for while
they were all intent upon capturing
the stronghold of the enemy he Sc
cretly sent considerable force up the
river, took Tete by surprise, entirely
destroyed the settlement, and the
Portuguese had work enough to do
in re-establishing themselves on the
ruins of their town.
AT some of the stations on the
Congo they have recently discovered
new method of gaining the assent
of unwilling chiefs to the demands
of the white men. All they have to
do is to threaten with very serious
air to tear down the station. pull ur
stakes and leave. The mere pros
pect of losing the transport trade
and all opportunities Of procuring
articles they want scares them into
making any concession.
The Portuguese have not since
attempted to slbjugate Bonga
WHOSE power, however, MI. Duranu
says, is waring, some of his import.
ant villages far south of the Fam,
best, having recently fallen into the
hands of the Portuguese. The
traveller was permitted to enter
Borga's village. He says the vii.
lage is surrounded by large timbers
planted three deep, securely bound
together, making a wide wall from
twenty-four to thirty feet high. The
entrance is still adorned with the
heads of the unfortunate Portuguese
WHO were killed in the last assault
upon the place. Within are thu
chiefs large buildings, hundreds o
native huts, and many storehouse
and ammunition magazines New
York Sun.