Wichita eagle., 1890-01-26

The fisher tribes of the Congo are an indie
pendent class of natives, fortified, so to
speak, in their rights of monopoly by the
impregnable positions they take up In the
midst of rocky cataract beds, where neither
hostile neighbors nor intrusive Arabs can
reach them. Stanley says of them that they
are industrious and inventive. In the streets
OF their villages the ish curers attend lines Of
curing platforms; the old men are weaving
purse nets and sleeves; the able bodied men are
at basket work, while the others weave rat
tan hawsers The women are preparing
bread, grinding camwood, used in dyeing
sitting meal, pounding corn or making crock
cry. On the water side are the canoewrights,
doing odd jobs-binding a split bow, a split
stern OF leaky crack, or perhaps cutting
out decayed part and preparing O piece Of
plank to replace it.
The river itself, guarded by these dusky
people, is not only famous waterway, but
a magnificent river beautiful ia scenery as
well. The picturesque Rhine, according to
Stanley, is only microscopic miniature of
the Congo, and the latter only lacks Rhine
steamers with wine and food and other &C
commodadons to enable the traveller to see
its beauties properly. As for the Father of
Waters-the MlssiEippi-the Congo is one
and half times longer and from eight to ten
times broader. Along any Of tho Numerous
channels of the African river the traveller
will see more beauty and variety Of vegeta-
ton than on the banks Of the Mississippi
Besides, there are its crocodiles, its hippopot-
ami, its elephants, its buffaloes red and
white) its parrots, Its foclss of ibis, and other
picturesque objects to lend interest and
grandeur. The traveller in Central Africa is
not, however, confined to water routes ex-
clusively. and when he traverses the regions
occupied by friendly tribes the hammock
affords pleasant and easy mode of doing"
the tropical region. knowledge of the in
terror is gained by hammock travelling, and
the sick are often transported in this manner.
Some Of the most interesting features of
journey up the river Congo are the scenes in
the interior, but often the eye rests upon
them along shore. Such is the village shown
in the Observation-Disclosures from sketch by
Herbert Ward for The Illustrated London
News-a settlement Of the Ba-yanzi. From
the water Is seen a broad lane leading up to
grove Of oil palms and bananas, with COM
pact and tidy looking houses interspersed
among them. The people are described by
Johnston the naturalist, as Amor looking than
any race seen on the Congo. ''Some Of the
men are perfect Greek statues rs regards their
splendid Development and the pose of their
figures" 81
The Ba-yan2 have certain cruel customs,
but are in many respects much superior TO
some other natives of the great river. They
make pottery, knives, hatchets and articles
of furniture, and trade with neighboring
tribes. They are fond OF music and have a
native instrument of the dulcimer class
They are also clever fishermen and cultivate
fruits, vegetables, tobacco and other prod
ucts. According to ethno!ogists the Ba-
yauN are not of the negro race, but belong
to the ''Bantu" family. They are well shaped
and tall, as may be seen in the cut, the fig
ures having been photographed by Hr. Her
bert Ward, fer whom the subjects posed with
considerable interest. These people usually
dress their hair, which is of great strength,
deeorasively, especially the warriors, who
twist it into weird, horn like shapes
For all their peaceful measures and rela-
tions Of comfy with the Usher tribes, it will |
Be seen that the Arab mariners travel well |
armed. The regions bordering on the river
are inhabited by tribes that may or may not |
resent the incursion of the stranger The !
dangers TO De encountered by explorers and |
traders do not always come from muscular |
races however. ard the great forest region !
below the north bend Of the Congo and eof-