Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-16
AFRICA NOT SO BAD.
AN EX-cONSUL SAYS THE DANGERS
ARE EXAGGERATED.

| Little Difaculty-The Natives Well Be
haved and Peaceful.
Residing for many years In Africa undel
such conditions as brought me IN close con
tact with its native population, had peculiar
| opportunities to learn several Of their dials q
and observe closely the peopla The expert
ence which have had with the Africans " Al
| secured through travel IN the interior, be
tween Dahomey and the country Of the
Makololos. For some time lived with tn,
natives as one Of themselves, adopting theil
| habits, style of dress and submitting to theil
laws and superstiuons
| The character Of the negro Of the Congo
/ district Is distinguished by nothing that |:
| positively bad, yet there Is deplorabls alb
sence Of those good qualities Of feeling and
emotion such as belong TO civilized humanity
he has no idea of divine being, nor of 8
hereafter. Deficient in virtues, his characte,
is without the corresponding passions HI
knows neither love, affection nor jealousy
With no knowledge Of friendship, he never
hates. Treacherous TO excess, yet il is but
seldom that he viii resent an injury. Indi
vidually a coward, his whole belief Is in
fetch and its power for good and evil, and
in a fear Of spirits
Let the traveller arm himself with tact,
courage, endurance, patience and mer-
chandise and he needs no other protection.
As an example which may illustrate the
truth Of this statement / will relate some OF
my personal experiences in Africa
a few years ago when / was engaged in
the barter trade for palm oil, ivory, cam
wood and other indigenous products among
the natives Of West Africa at Angra in
Lower Guinea, a business panic arosa. A.
last not drop of oil nor pound Of produce
Of any kind was brought by the natives to
the beach for sale. The continuation Of this
depression in trade finally caused the traders
to close their factories, some returning to
Europe while others sought new fields for
commercial exploit.
WILD FABLES OF THE INTERIOR
From the day that l had first arrived at
this place / had heard tales about an e1cep-
tionally rich country which runor reported
as being situated several hundred miles in the
interior. Glowing accounts were rife de-
scriptive Of this district and its fertility. IL
was said to be an immense country, covered
with dense forests Of cam wood, that its soil
contained many large and valuable deposits
Of gold, and, so plentiful was the supply Of
ivory, that the natives, who had but slight
idea Of its value, built around their towns
large defensive walls or barricades consisting
entirely Of elephants tusks
Uninhuenced by these wild tales l deter
mined to attempt TO reach this much talked
OF land, end was fortunately able to secure as
q partner and companion for this trip an
Englishman named Edward Boyle After
some little difficulty We secured one hundred
natives TO accompany US, seventy-ive Of them
to be used as carriers and twenty-five armed
with muskets TO act as guard Our prepara-
tons were soon completed, and II the haze
OF the early morning of en- August day we
started from the beach upon an undertaking
which many called harebrained and foolish
Our passage through the country for three
weeks was devoid Of interest except that
every day we became familiar with some new
feature which showed how layishly nature
had endowed this country Game was more
than abundant and water was plentiful Our
carriers behaved well, cheerfully marching
from twelve to fifteen miles a day.
On the 18th Of September we reached a ma
tive town which was the extreme point inland
with which white traders had up to that time
done business Whreabo the chief Of this
place, was extremely anxious to prevent US
from continuing our journey, but, suspicious
of his motives, we left bis town and moved
on towards our destination After leaving
Whreabo's town VIC found that the nature Of
the country changed. Offering many obstacles
TO retard our progress They were Of kind,
however, which were soon overcome We
frequently had our passage interrupted by
fallen trees and interlactng mangroves. but
with axes and cutlasses we In time cleared
for ourselves way. Six days of constant
labor enabled Us to break away from the
forests and emerge into an open territory in
the neighborhood Of a town belonging to the
Shantees, where we met with what at first
seemed opposition
THE CHIEFS DISPOSED 10 BE FRIENDLY
On our arrival Just outside the confines Of
the town we had sent forward q messenger
with the usual request and presents, hoping
to be invited to enter the place Contrary
10 our expectations our messenger returned
without the desired permit and bringing
word that great chief was being buried and
that it would be improper for them to allow
white man TO enter or pass the town.
Boyle. my partner, having but slight knowi-
edge Of the native character. desired to
resort to force and demand hospitality and
passage with our guna ] knew better, for
even If we had succeeded, which was doubt
full, an action Of this kind would have been
heralded throughout the country and made
our further progress difficult.
The carriers whom we had brought with Us
from the beach desired 70 return, and we
found that unless We agreed TO purchase
slaves we would not be able to HLl their places.
We managed TO get carrierz The armed men
also left Us, but these we did not need, as
was satisfied that unless ] became foolish and
careless or disregarded soLne Of tie native So
perstitions / would have 10 further trouble.
Refreshed and rested By our long stop at
this place, we renewed our march with cour-
age aud In good spiritA Thirty more days
were passed without any serious troubles,
though every day brought Us In contact With
many natives As we treated them. 20 thsy
treated US We suffered at times from the
heat and from the want Of food and water,
but never longer than day or two at time.
at the end Of these thirty days We were IL
district apparently Of grea: natural wealth
and we decided TO locate In SOHO town b tbs
end commence Tada In tss
Of q place We were fortunate, Tor In
q few weeks al Of our uerchandise was sold
for ivory. Our resistance at this town vgs
pleasant
During my tip through interior Africa we
Travelled over an immense district, among
savage people. but n entire safety and With
out danger except such a. cams from natural
causes VIA: {. YVES poss,bls Tor % 70 do Il
this part Of Africa II Is possible Tor another
10 Do In sry other part Of that continent sven
L j. sAo-ld Be IN tie rs.shsorhaod q tie
seadwsters Of tie Congo, for the rsveIer