Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-13

w.
Il Prince in Gaudy attire.
The Princess tasted the tea, but expressed
her opinion that rum was q superior article.
This sentiment was met by cold look from
the Prince of Malella, and we felt it was a
convenient moment to take our departure.
A sea breeze usually springs up in the
afternoon and sometimes blows the waters of
the Congo back with such violence as to
prevent the natives from crossing the river.
Waves are created by this sea breeze so
| large as TO suggest that one is on large
lake. Taking advantage of the friendly
wind we hauled up two sails, and were soon
sailing along at swift rate OF speed. At
4:45 P. NJ. we turned into a creek to the
northward, where we came upon several
villages of the Chimbamba people, the
scene of the late war, in which the troops of
the Independent State of Congo killed
many people and burned several villages.
The country of the Chimbamba is divided
by the creek into two distinct princedoms;
the Chimbambas occupying the right
bank and calling their country Chin
bamba, and the Musserongos occupy
ing the left bank of the creek
and calling their country Kimbamba.
METHODS OF BELGIAN AGENT.
On account of frequent boundary-line dis
putes, the Prince OF Chimbamba requested
the agent of u Belgian commercial company
located in his district and having its head
quarters at Mataba, to lease from him his
lands, not to buy them. Having secured
lease of land from the Chimbamba Prince,
the agent of the aforenamed company,
Monsieur Proutch, sought to secure the
same privileges from the Prince of the Mus
serongos, but was unsuccessful. The agent
threatened to obtain the land BY force, but
the brave Musserongos were not easily
frightened. At length Agent Proutch gave
a great feast, and at it purposely insulted
the Prince of the Musserongos. A short
time after this affair Agent Proutch made
levy Tor native troops of ten men from each
one of the 80 villages, and appealed to the
State OF Congo for troops. This request was
promptly granted, and o cruel and de-
structive war was waged against the Mus
serongos, the results of which are still pain
fully visible.
This creek, which leads around to Ponta
de Lehna, was one of the most lovely sheets
of water had seen. Both the island and
mainland were fertile, bearing variety of
trees yielding fruit, oil and rubber. We
frequently came across the wild tomato and
coffee, while three or four varieties of wild
flowers and creeping vines. more lovely in tint
and more ingenious in their trellis work than
any to be found in Eng gland or America, trained
by the hand of man. We passed many
pleasant-looking villages, nesting peace
fully under the shadow OF trees, kindly
stretching forth their green branches.
A SUNSET IN AFRICA.
There is little or no twilight in Africa,
although its sunsets are beautiful beyond
description or comparison. When the suu's
disk first reaches the horizon il presents the
aspect of the open door OF blast furnace at
its greatest heat. Within six and ten min
utes you have transformation marvelIously
beautiful, for now a considerable distance
along the brazen pathway of the retiring
King of Day are the most beautiful tints
ever witnessed by the human eyes, Along
the edge OF the horizon is that peculiar color
of the pearl so much desired by the expert
merchant of that precious gem; while lust
above it is the creamy and exquisite tint OF
the ripe peach, blending with the plum |
purple still further up the horizon.
The shape of this afterglow is that of an |
exaggerated fan of lady at opera. who |
holds 1t in such a position as to permit |
someone in a distant part of the house to |
catch, at ore glance, a thousand beautiful |
tints brought out by magnificent chande- |
lier. One small moment of pleasure is LETT |
you; there is now one large spot of the |
horizon like an e1quisitely polished block
of alabaster. We had an early moon. and |
the moonlight in tropical country is GER
tainly enchanting, the profuse and deep
green foliage combining to make a lovely |
scene. Here. for example, we came upon a
grove of banana trees, low but spreading
their long blades like so many Damascus
swords; and at every rush of the wind turn
ing their blades like knights in deadly CON-
bat, and scattering the soft, silyery light of
the moon like the crystal spray OF a foun-
tain.
STORMY NIGHT ON THE WATER,
We passed number OF beauti nj islands
with few, and sometimes no, inhabitants.
islands green and fair to see, around whose
green velvet skirts fringed with soft sand.
fine and white, the wild duck and graceful
stork wandered in peaceful security. Some
times we passed what seemed to be the
mouth of very small creek; but the waters
soon find themselves imprisoned by banks
of hard, yellow clay; and here, but a few
hundred yards rom the Congo river. the
b refresh themselves in the LONG
cool grass and hide from the deadly rifle Of
the hunter. We encountered a severe storm
and did not reach Bona until hours after
we should have been there. During the
awful night we dared not land, and a few
grunted around US, but did not
inter ere with our boat.
From Banana to Bona the countrv IN
both sides of the river is low, undulatinp
plain; but from Bomba to Matadi il is high
and mountainous. The change in the conn
try is abrupt and extreme, and the waters
lre fretted by innumerable whirlpools. and
rs desire to see this part of the river bv
daylight, travelled only by dav and occu-
pied three days, a trip easily made in Eve
hours by small steamer 1 made .our
tops, at Mussuco and Eoqui, in Portuguese
erritory, where 1 was Hospitality enter
aimed, and at Ango-Ango and Fuca-Fuca.
n the State OF Congo. From Bona to Ma,
adj there are no creeks to traverse. The
population is sparse, the soil is sterile and
be trade is light though profitable, and con-
lists o. rubber, coffee and ivory.
/ have just walked over the proposed
quite the proposed Congo Railwar. from
iatadi to the mouth OF the Mpozo river, and
eturned over the caravan road. In a few
ays leave for the Upper Congo, going as
ar as Stanley Falls.
GEORGE W. WILLIAMS.
Sea Shore Philosophy.