The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-13

~ Zs'~z at the end of four
= mon this after
E. ]. eLAvE. leaving England I
was in command of a pioneer station on
the Congo. We landed at Banana Point,
at the mouth Of the Congo, and then took
a river steamer to Vivi, hundred miles
up"
''How did the climate agree with you
at first?"
81 had the usual troubles, fevers and
so on, for Il time, but soon got strong
and remained there three years. re-
: turned to England for ten months, and
then went out again exploring the tribu-
taries of the Congo. where spent three
years more.
"To what violent dangers were you
exposed?"
81 lived among the natives with only
one soldier and slept as securely as do
here in New York. OF course there are
dangers in life and travel on the Congo.
Some of tl.a natives there are trouble
some at times. Then there are the hippo
potami, the rough waters, and the ter
rible tornadoes that come up without
warning AMI have tendency to swamp
your boat before it can reach shore"
"What OF the natives on the Congo?"
They are a happy -go-lucky, good
natured, caiidlike people, except when
aroused to cruel passions by bloodthirsty,
savage ceremonies. They are at times
suspicious from the fear they have of
stronger tribes from the interior"
6What nb0Ilt tho chin, no N zaap"
"He is simply an intelligent monkey"
"How about the notion that he is
human and would talk but for fear of
being enslaved should he do so?"
That is nonsense. He is only
monkey and becomes very tame. In
fact, they become too familiar around
camp. When the crew are at mess the
chimpanzees will run up and dip their
paws in the pot to pull out their share"
"Are yoa an artist, Mr.. Glave?'
81 made some sketches on the Congo,
and they were used in the London illus
trated papers and also in Stanley's
Founding of Free State have none
of my own that could offer you, but
here is a very curious picture of native
climbing wine tree. 1t was made by
another on the spot. The rope passes
around the trunk of the tree and the
body of the climber. BY working the
rope with circular motion little by lit
che draws himself up the tree and can
hold on at any point he chooses"
"What Of the Congo region for devel-
opment9"
"The climate will prevent extensive
colonization, but tho productions of the
country admit of successful commercial
enterprise, which, however, must be con-
fined to the few. Great fortunes will be
made by those fortunate enough to en-
dure."
Are there many Americans in African
Eyes, as missionaries, and they seem
to rough it well. They go far into the
heart of the Dark Continent and found
stations with missions. They are kind
to the natives and hospitable to all white
travellers whom fortune casts among
them, and they are a most desirable ele-
ment to have there"
sis there much territory remaining
unexplored?"
'Very little. But much of that which
has been explored in the past is now
closed up; there are no roads and no
stations, and the whole country has re-
lapsed into an unknown wilderness peo-
pied with savage tribes"
"Are young men good explorers and
residents?'
eat proper age, yes; say between 20
and 30. Most great explorers In Africa
have started out young"
"What have been some of your per-
sonal adventures
II have shot buffalo, elephants, hippo
potami, crocodile and huge serpents. l
have also shot a soko, dangerous half
brute, Mailman, something like the GO
rilla. HUNTED great deal on both my
trips. AS rule, / went out alone, ac-
companied by two natives. The natives
do not take ga ne as hunters do. They
kill large animals by trap and use net
for small ones. ] found that natives on
hunt would sympathize with the senti-
ments of their leader If he showed the
white feather, they were most happy to
do the same. If he showed disposition
to go in they would follow with cool
hunt alone-that is, without white men.
As a rule men who go there to hunt
have an idea of plenty of big game to
be had for the shooting. They do not
take into consideration the probability
that the animal may dispute possession
of himself. Now, when amateur hunt
ers come to realize that hunting means
fighting, and look out upon a sea of
horns, menacing and murderous look
ing, they begin to tremble and then the
hunting stability is all taken out of
them. have been charged by buffalo.
have been where life depended on my
last shot and if my rife had failed me
then / would have been gone.
1.-THE great quality for a hunter there
is patience. 1t is wrong to fire from a
great distance or without sure aim.
When we kill big game we give it to the
natives to insure their good feelings, but
TO hit big game at a venture, only wound
ing 1t, is am act of torture. never count
game as got unless / have the tail as a
trophy. An animal may be hit and sup
posed to be MORALLY hurt, but he disap-
pears in the jungle, never to be seen by
his hunter again"
Mr.. Glave's manner, when l had Sc
cured his interest, convinced me that he
is of the stuff for pioneering, and asked
him if he intended to return to Africa.
Eyes, after an interval to regain my
full powers. Only ten months elapsed
between my first and second trips, and
this time l intend to make it longer;
then | shall return for three or four
years. am now preparing an account
of my six years hunting experiences for
the boys Of The st. Nicholas Magazine,
and shall write upon weightier topics,
particularly on slavery, for The Century
Magazine. return TO England in April.
In writing up the slave trade shall re-
late what have seen of the evil, with
the hopes of arousng public sentiment