Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-12
Uoy; An AFRICAN EXPEDITION Is
ORGANIZED.
by Thomas stevens.

,,,ror Of q. Around the World on Bicycle.
Tl7l.rof the party that met Stanley on hls
return from the relief OF Emin Pasha.
downright 1880 by the Author.l
The organization and management Of an
African expedition is an affair that puts
q European g executive abilities to nc
mean test. Few people are aware of tine
number of African expeditions that are
entered upon by persons incompetent &c
carry their undertaking out to success
fpl issue. 1t is only of the wholly OF
partially successful expeditions that peo-
ME at home hear or read. For every
African expedition that is heard OF by
the general public there are probably a
half dozen that are organized, come 10
grief, and are never heard of out OF
Zanzibar, and e limited circle who were
Immediately connected with their lncep-
ton.
All the failures are brought about by
the instability of the negroes whom you
have to depend upon TO carry the sup
plies, as q first cause, and, as second ,
the unhtness of the white men in charge
10 control and command that class of
people. Some mon are peculiarly fitted
10 manage q crowd of half-civIliZed +,
rattle-brained Africans; others are wo-
fully out of place trying to command
anything less civilized than their tailor &.
The great Quitting place for eXpedi-
tons starting into the interior from the
east coast is Zanzibar. Zanzibar is a city
Of so 900 people, on an island containing
200, 900. It is twenty-five miles from the
mainland, the low hills of which can al
ways be seen at sunset from the fiat
roofs of the Zanzibar houses. The popu-
lstou Of the place consists of Arabs and
their negro slaves, free Africans, Hindu
and Geanoese merchants, and few
whites
\ few Kinds and n couple of whites
make q business Of assisting to organize
and outfit caravans for the interior. For
commission they undertake TO engage
tie number of porters you require, and
10 purchase the necessary quantities of
cloth, beads, wire and other supplies you
intend TO take with you. THESE men
have been long residents in Zanzibar,
and their knowledge OF the local
ropes is of great service to the new
arrival from Europe and America.
Notice is circulated that men are
wanted for q white mans expedition.
Ina very short time everybody in ZanzI-
bar is talking about it. Young men de-
sirouS Of acting rs porters go to your
sgent and have their names put down.
D Three months wages are paid them in
advance to bind them to their contract.
ffom The day OF signing until the start
ing Of the expedition, whether it be
week or six mouths, each man draws
Aoodt five cents a day posho, or ration
money. The wage of the porter is So a
month and rations. THE old Maria The
issa dollar is still the unit Of account in
Anzibar, although the currency is ru-
PEGS.
In the interior there is no money, the
currency Of the interiors American or
bombay domesticS, Mauches er prints
anu hGukerchiefs, beads of many kinds
ana colors, and iron and copper wires.
II is the absence of the money and the
pu'Sy nature of these supplies that makes
navel in Central Africa so difficult and
expensive. Instead OF putting a roll of
notes or purse OF gold in your pocket
you have to buy bales of cloth, sacks of
uead; and coils OF wire, and hire rabble
OF Zanzibar porters TO accompany you
una carry them on their heads.
altAAtoA llNL ter lNaLAA " EAE rs oAAll
pounds. Lighter loads and better food
a'e expected from a European than from
an Arab. \ lad OF domeStics costs in
zanzibar about SIS, q load of beads, from
Go 10 $50, according 10 quality, a load
o. copper wire $50. Your load of SEN
slSe, for which you have paid 81 in Fan
-'oaT, will cost you $40 or $50 TO trans
hoIt 1t TO Ujiji, and SIS TO Uganda.
Nuch care and TorethOught has to be
- s1ereised in the selection OF the various
L'llS Of beads. Certain tribes will take
Ouiy certain kinds. Savages are most
yoaservatiye in the matter OF trade, and
WI no more think of accepting a neck
ave Oh beads 10 which they have not
zen accustomed, than an American
a. 5NOp Keeper would of accepting across
counter g Russian ruble.
Many an explorer has bitterly rued his
+ +.uo'anee of this nice point, when hun
, s'sas Of miles beyond the possibility of
i,s.e'tlying the mistake. Eeeause the
-s14s he had taken with him we're not
,.'Ient in EIgunin Count Teleki, in '7S,
"@s compelled TO make war on the
rl''ves and seize food to preTent his peo-
20 from starving. interruptions bead
--'''Aants take advantage OF the un-