The Irish standard., 1890-08-02


in Sikaso Captain Binger passed. through;
part Of the dusky p1onarch's territory.
South of Sil1aso our Biographies knew
no more of the region he traversed than
of the dark side of the moon. He was
now in virgin territory, and he found
that our impressions Of that region, de-
rived from Niger and coast natives,
were generally wrong. He was net
little surprised, for instance, to sud
denly find that all the rivers were flow
ing south. The maps for many years
had represented tributaries of the Niger
rising in the Kong mountains; but there
Binger was far north of Kong, and all
the rivers were running south to the sea.
The commerce of Kong is very flour
fishing. The market is veritable fair.
Besides all sorts of provisions, one may
procure there European articles coming
from the coast, such as cloths, guns,
powder and hardware. There are also
many domestic products in the market.
The money consists of cowry shells and
gold dust.
Captain Binger remained in Kong
about three weeks, and then set out for
the unknown country northeast, and
after making a long circular trip he
reached Kong again. His convoy in
cluded only seven men and ten donkeys
we'll laden with presents for the chiefs
and goods for the purchase of food. His
purpose was not only exploration, but
also, if possible, to make treaties plac-
ing all these unknown regions under
the protection of France. He found
Bobo- Diulasu to be a large place with
an important trade. He was much in
terested herein the travelling BARRIERS
and manicures. The latter, with poor
pair of scissors, made in the country,
trim the nails of fingers and toes, chargg--
ing each customer a price in cowry
shells that is about fifth Of cent.
He had great difficulty in advancing
further north, as the people are ex-
cessively superstitious. A bit of paper
thrown on the ground, the sight of his
table, or the cordage that bound his
bundles, filled them with terror. They
accused him of sorcery, and he had to
be very adroit in his questions to get
any information about the country. All
this region on the borders Of Mossi was
in complete anarchy, having been raw
aged by bands from Houssa and Soug
hap, far north. It was impossible to Sc
cure protection from a single chief. The
heritage is more rank and savage than
along other parts Of Binger S route, and
offered an excellent theater for the
operations of the brigands.
In Mossi, however, Captain Binger
had royal reception, the King loading
the little expedition with food, giving
its leader "a horse, and accompanying
him in all his excursions. An unfortu-
nate incident occurred, however, show
ing the flckleness of royal fayoE IN inner
Africa The King was on the point OF
making treaty with Binger when the
news came that German expedition
was approaching the country. The
rumor scared the King nearly out of his
wits. He thought his country was go
ing to be overrun with white men, and
with much trepidation he requested
Captain Binger to take his departure.
The explorer spent a month in Mossi,
and he regards that country as one Of
the most promising he has visited. He
says it is beautiful land of plains, very
we'll adapted to cultivation and cattle
raising and thickly populated. He
estimates the population at about thirty
to the square mile. <~
On his way back to Kong Binger
visited the well-known town Of Salaga,
place of about 5000 inhabitan is, which
he describes as the dirtiest place he
ever visited. This town, not very far
from the large Volta river, has long had
relations with the European colonies on
the coast. If it is very dirty the citizens
may urge that they have not a particle
of water 1T for drinking or bathing pur-
poses in their neighborhood. They car
ry nearly all the water they use dis
lance of about eight miles, and the
trade in water and wood engages con-
siderable part of the population. tt is,
however, as a great salt market that
Salaga is chiefly famous, and an enor-
nous region derives its entire supply
of salt from the mines at Salaga. The
fact that the natives wished to be near
the source of their salt supply, which is
their chief industry, explains the pecu-
liar circumstance that they built their
town SO far from water.
In his little party Binger had in the
way OF firearms only one rifle, fowl
ing-piece and two revolvers. To win
the friendship of the unknown people,
he visited the explorer depended upon
his handsome supply Of presents, and he
also found to be very serviceable a letter
from high authority in the Moham-
medan world of that region commend
ing him to the friendship and hospital
ity OF all followers Of the prophet.
A Peculiar Royal Gift.
The Crown Princess Of Denmark
brought to the Queen of Sweden dur
ing her recent visit to Copenhagen a
present after that good old lady's heart
It is text-alb bum containing the Queens
:favorite verses from the Old and New
Testament Scriptures, illuminated in
the fifteenth entury style by the Prin- !.
cess own hand. Each page has a LITER
ent design on It, and 50 careful and
elaborate is the execution that it has
taken her Royal Highness years to ac-
comp sh the work. The binding is of
III 800 EIVs q r