Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-03-14
A MlssloNARYs TRAVELS.
What Devout scotchman saw IN tn,
Heart of the Dark Continent.

Heart of the Dark Continent.
One Of the most remarkable African,
travellers is Mr. F. 5. Arnot. Scotch
missionary whose name is hardly vet
known except 20 geogrsphers and
church societies. but whose achieve
ments are almost unique in their way,
and equal those ~ more famous ex-
plorers, Travelling for thousands Of
miles across the Dark Continent. often
without oven black attendant and
almost destitute Of resources, settling
at last in the country Of the most pow
enul King Of the Upper Congo, who is
known TO us only through Arnots
writings aud the short visits OF the
German Reichard and the Portuguese
Capclu and lvens lie has everywhere
shown a rare capacity for win
Mug the confidence Of savages
and enlisting their friendship and
helpmluess Though in his seven
wears wanderings he crossed
the continent from Natal 70 Benguela.
and pushed inland 70 the western head
streams Of the Congo, almost exactly
midway between tho Atlantic and the
Indian Oceans, he was never harmed
or seriously menaced; and IL was his
practice to refer all disputes 10 tho
native tribunals, from which he says
he received in every ease just and fair
treatment Gentcncss and patience
have been The secret OF Arnots sue
cess. so eager was he 10 impress the
natives with the belief that he was the
friend Of all and incapable Of violence,
that il was his practice 70 keep the gun
with which he hunted hidden from
view. II was his opportune arrival
several years ago that restored tho
American missionary Sanders 10 his
chosen field near Bihe, from which he
had been banished by the Vaccinations
OF the Portuguese, who aroused the
natives with a story that Sanders was
preaching to them a Saviour whom his
people had murdered.
Mr.. Arnot who is now in England.
told in lecture the other day OF the
remarkable cave dwelling in the coun-
Try. to which he expects TO return next
spring. In the mountains that border
Gal1nganja ON the north, are caverns
that have been dug far into the hills.
and aggregate Il total length OF ten or
twelve miles. In those extensive ex-
cavations live many thousands Of pe0-
pie with all their domestic animals.
The caves form Il suhlerranean city,
with scores Of dark alleys leading from
one main excavation 10 another After
tunnellng for some distance into the
mountains many OF the excavations
run parallel with the base of the hills,
and outlets here and there give access
to the outer world. These pas
sagcs are a great convenience 90
the troglodytes, especially when they
are besieged in their dark homes by
enemies. They often utilize some
exit unknown to The besiegeis TO effect
their escape or while the enemy is
guarding one entrance the cave dwell
ers issue in swarms from another, and
fall anawares upon the foe. The latest
English newspapers barely refer 10 the
fact that Mr.. Alnot devoted large
part OF his lecture before the Royal
Geographical Society 10 q description
of these caves and their inmates, and
it will be very interesting TO read his
detailed description, which will soon
be published, Of this remarkable phase
Of African life
In tiarangania, nearly four thousand
feet above the sea Mr. Arnot says he
has found the place he long sought, .
populous country, where missionaries
can preserve their health while pulEu-
ing their chosen work, A while ago
two missionaries We're sent 20 share
his abors and thus he obtained an
opportunity 80 revisit his native land.
N Y SIN.