Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-03-15
a MISSIONARIES TRAVELS.
What a Devout Scotchman Saw In the
Heart of the Dark Continent.

heart OF the DARK Cpntineut.
One of the most remarkable African
travellers is Mr.. f. 5. Arnot, Scotch
missionary whose name is hardly yet
known except to geographers and
church societies, but whose achieve
ments are almost unique in their way,
and equal those.of more famous eX-
plorers Travelling for thousands of
miles across the Dark Continent, often
without even black attendant and
almost destitute of resources, settling
at last in the country Of the most pow
erful King of the Upper Congo, who is
known TO us only through Arnots
writings and the short visits of the
German Reichard aud the Portuguese
Capello and Ivens, he has everywhere
shown rare capacity for win
ming the confidence of savages
and enlisting their friendship and
helpfulness. Though in his seven
years wandcrings he crossed
the continent from Natal to Benguela,
and pushed inland TO the western head
streams Of the Congo, almost exactly
midway between the Atlantic and the
Indian Oceans, he was never harmed
or seriously menaced; and it was his
practice 10 refer all disputes to the
native tribunals, from which he says
he received in every case just and fair
treatment. GentlenesS and patience
have been the secret of Arnot's sue
~ 1fa 70 t,,,,, he
natives with the belief that he was the
friend Of all and incapable of violence,
that it was his practice TO keep the gun
with which he hunted hidden from
view. 1t was his opportune arrival
several years ago that restored the
American missionary Sanders TO his
chosen field near Bihe, from which he
had been banished by the Vaccinations
OF the Portuguese, who aroused the
natives with n story that Sanders was
preaching to them Saviour whom his
people had murdered.
Mr.. Arnot, who is now in England,
told in a 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
Garanganja on the north. are caverns
that have been dug far into the hills,
and aggregate total length of ten or
twelve miles. In these extensive ex-
cavatious live many thousands of peo-
pie with all their domestic animals.
The caves form a subterranean city,
with scores OF dark alleys leading from
one main excavation TO another After
tunneling 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
20 the outer world. These pas
sages are great convenience TO
the troglodytcs, especially when they
are bcsieged in their dark homes by
enemies. They often utilize some
exit unknown TO the besiegers TO effect
their escape, or while the enemy is.
guarding one entrance the cave dwell
ers issue in swarms from another, and
fall unawares upon the foe The latest
English newspapers barely refer TO the
fact that Mr.. Arnot devoted a large
part OF his lecture before the Royal
Geographical Society to Il 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 Garanganja, 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 pursu-
ing their chosen work. A while ago
two missionaries were sent TO share
his labors, and thus he obtained an
opportunity to revisit his native land.
N. Y. So