The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-15
HIS WIVES help RULE.
A Great Afrfean CHIEF whose 500
Consorfs are His 3Ginisters Of State.
Eau v<s~k s~.

View York san
Thirty years ago, Just about the time
when the big African lakes were dis
covered, there lived in Unvamwez.
shYongh which Burton had Just tray
ssIied on his way To Lake Tanganyika,
a boy named Msisii, who has since be-
CONS famous Ills father went every
now and then several hundreds OF
miles from home 70 the great copper
country Of ssnga to buy the metal
from native miners When Msidi be-
came young man hls father took him
on sofae Of these expeditions.
Finally Isidi started out 20 b8y cop
per on his own account. He arrived
In the mineral region once when the
big chief Of this Sanga country was at
war with a great tribe who were invaa-
ing his district from the north. Msidi
had with him four guns and pl enfy OF
ammunition. Firearms had never been
heard Of In that country, and when
Meidi marched cut 10 wiz battle for
bis friend, the chief OF sanga, the
enemy fed In great dissaay after a few
shots Just as few OF Livingstone :
Makoiolo p3rters with only nine guns
conquered the whole shire country
and set up rs little kings, 50 Msidi
laid the foundation OF his fortune with
/ four guns.
| The old chief felt so grateful to Msidi
that he made the young man his heir
He died soon after. and the humble
ivory trader suddenly became the
ehicf Of quite a large country. He
killed all chiefs who he thought might
become his rivals, carried en- agrees
siye warfare against all the surround
ing tribes, gradually spread bis do
msnion, and Is still extending il. Liv-
iHgstones cazembe and the Muata
faEnva used 10 he talked OF as the
greatest chiefs west OF the big lakes.
Reelus says that Msidi Is now without
aeabt the most powerful rsicf in the
Congo basin.
An anec.iote is told Illustrating the
sflrewdRess of this savage potentate.
| When Mr.. Arunt 4 while ago. sent
word q ..sc chief asking permission
| 10 settle in bis country as a mission
airy. some Arab traders who were nj
| his capital told Msidi that all English
men were villains, and urged him
either 10 kill Arnot or 70 turn him
back Well. said the chief, IL don {
know aay Engiishmen, bat / do know
you Arabs, and you are the biggest
| liars [ eycr saw. The Engsishman
may come, and viii see what he is
| like. =
The chief. for an untutored native.
has remarkable administrative ability.
and TO this talent he largely owes his
great success He has adopted n very
curious system of keeping all the at
fairs of his country i'm his own hands
without bothering himself with de-
tails. He has done this by making his
500 wives his officers of state.
He has divided his great empire
iuio MANY districts, each of which is
rsiled by 4 minor chief. Each chief Is
represented at court by one OF Msidi ;
wives. She sees that all the tribute
due from her district il forwarded to
the capital, enferfains all visitors from
the district, and Is ready 10 give Msidi
at a moments notice any information
be desires The result il that without
books or secretaries he rules the
country in business-likc way, and
his name everywhere inspires respect
and often fear.
Nsidi renamed his country 6aren-
game 1t is west of Lakes Bangwoolo
and Moero. between the Luapnla and
i.unlapa rivers. and embraces over
5000 square miles.