Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-09-05
AN AFRICAN ORpER.
a SAVAGE CHIEFS oRoT,esoug
INSIGNIA or AUTHORITY.
Strange Usage of Discarded Rec
Opera Hat--old lbaka's Des-
perate Struggles with His
Undutifrl Son.

Formerly Ibaka was the most power
full chief of Bolobo District, in Africa,
writes Z. l.. Glavc in 50. Nicholas. His
name was mentioned by the natives OF
the surrounding villages with great
deal of reyerential awe. But his village
had become disuuted; each of his sons
was ut enmity with him, and Manga,
Gafula, Lingcnii, Nikoc, Ngai, Utaska,
the chiefs of the ncighboring territory,
being keen traders, had obtained mum.
oers of fighting men, and Ibaku's word,
which at one time commanded Instant
obedience, was now but little regarded
His title of chief of Bolobo was OF small
value; he had lost allinfuence. During
my stay Mt Bolobo many time he APP.
piled to us for assistance against his
neighbors, and OH several occasions he
arrived at our gates in full flight, chased
by his own sons, armed with heavy
sticks, who sought by this method OF
persuasion, to make their father agree to
an immediate and complete division OF
the little wealth he still possessed, or to
gain his consent to any other extortion-
ate demand that might have suggested
ANSNA w ShShi ihNSubhC
Poor old lbaka was a wcll-mcaninc
fellow, and was very favorably disposed
toward the white men. He was, indeed,
anxious to be ON a friendly footing with
his white neighbors, but the other vii.
layers were jealous of him, and taxed
him Into triiling but irritating acts OF
arrogance against the station, which re-
suited, few months before my arrival,
in II little war between Ibaka md Lieu.
tenant Liebrcchts, Il Belgian artillery
officer, who was In command of this sta.
ton. AS punishment for his aggrcs-
| sivencss, lbaka's town was burned to the
ground.
There is an institution among these
people which cannot be more correctly
described than by terming it the "Ordcr
Of the Tall Hat" There is in each dis
trict n chief who Inns proved by his war
like success that he, OF all the chiefs, is
the most powerful. A public acknowl.
cdgmcnt is made of this fact, and the
elected individual is carried around on
mems shoulders through the different
villages, the bearers proclaiming to all
that he is the Mokunic Moncnc (Big Chief,
and that in future all tribal disputes are
to be submitted TO his Judgment. Upou
his return to the village, amidst dancing
and singing and general fcasting and JOY,
the Fetishman, or charm doctor, plnces
ON the chiefs head tall hat, resembling
the ''stovcpipc' of civilized countries,
but which is built with brim nj the
crown, aud not ut the basc. This hat is
hereafter worn on all great occasions, and
the wcarcr retains il until HE death when
n new candidate is elected. III times
gone by Ibaka had received the honor OF
election TO this proud order, but, unfor-
tunately, during the trouble with I.icb-
brechts the towering emblem of peculiar
distinction was burned. A sympathizing
white man, travelling through the coun-
try, heard of the old chiefs hatess, con.
dition, and presented him with rcd
opera hat of exaggerated construction,
which had probably in years past formed
Il prominent feature in pnntomimc or
burlcsquc, or had been used with great
effect by some comic singer or WANDERING
Minstrel.
The possession of this truly wonderful
creation of the theatrical costulncr made
ibaka a proud and happy man. His de-
light in his new decoration would hive
been unnlloyed were il not for haunt
Ing fear that some one might steal il.
He kept it, when not in use, in our
station house, and called for it only on
state occasions and big public drink
ing-bouts. insisted on hir continual
care of this valuable acquisition, and
would place it OH the side of his head
for him, and impress upon him the nc
cessity of wearing ii in that position, as
we white men were very particular about
such details. Old Ibaka was intensely
supcrstitious, and WINS constantly with
the Fetishman, who was kept busy manu-
featuring new charms to protect him
against imaginary evils. The poor old
chief was easily gulled, and would nc
cept from anybody anything that had
the scmblancc of charm.
One day Ibaka arrived back from some
prolonged native festival. The old fell
low lore evidence of having aiken more
than his share of the strong wine. He
had worn the red op,ra-hat on this oc-
casion, and he now brought il to the
station to see il returned to place OF
safe-keeping. Upon closing it up no.
ticed mysterious little package, and
was Informed that it was monkanda
monganga fetish letter.. 1t was, in fact,
a Mohammedan prayer, given to him by
one of our boats crew, rs safeguard
, against all forms of death. 1t struck me
that red opera-hat with Mohammedan
prayer pinned in it was, indeed, a strange
Find" in the wilds of Central Africa.