The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-16

shields. their bodies painted, and with
a very fierce, warlike appearance.
..You can not go on" was the reply OF
their head-man to our messengers.
.sThe Lufembi, with many canoes, have
passed up the river. No one ever sleeps
here on this bank. If you try it you
will all have your threats cut"
This was not particularly cheering:
but we decided to sleep there, neverthe-
less. and sleep we did. A strong guard
was detailed to prevent surprise. In
the morning we would go up to the vii
lage, which was named Bolando, and
whose people, like all the Balolo, were
kindred to the fierce Lufembi, and at
the same time frequent sufferers at their
hands.
While we were doing around the
camp fires, in fancied security, great
shout suddenly went up and there was
an instant panic, resembling the scare
we had experienced at point one hum
dred miles further down the river.
Rifles and revolvers were discharged
and when we heard drums beating In
several directions we felt certain that
the dreaded Lufembi weri upon us in
force Owing to the impenetrable dark
ness we were in ignorance OF the cause
of all this confusion. After awhile the
firing ceased and the frightened crew OF
the Florida were once more convinced
that they had been the victims of false
alarm, as no enemy appeared. The distant
drums, however, continued to beat at
intervals, and it was not until daylight
that our camp felt quite secure from
attack of the invisible enemy.
In the morning, deeming it hopeless
to risk visit to the village, after the ex-
citing scare of the night, and as we
were unable to get either food or fuel
at that point (Which is between two
hundred and fifty and three hundred
miles up the Lulungu river, from the
point of its confluence with the Congo,
we returned to the steamer and went
to BOHEMIA, a fishing village where we
were told supplies were to be had in
abundance. We carried with us, how
ever, a vivid recollection of the Bolando
natives, whom our messengers de.
scribed as being of a very martial ap-
pearance. They wore, when our dele
cation met them, variety of weapons,
the principal one being a wooden
knife, in shape somewhat like prun-
ing hook, this made of an exceeding
ly hard and durable wood, sharpened to
a point and they used it very skillfully.
In conversation, they employed it to
emphasize their talk, and it was not
encouraging to our messengers to see
these savages brandishing their ugly
looking machetes at every sentence or
two.
Although we were exceedingly anx-
ious to push forward to the elephant
country, where, in it's native habitat,
the forest giant, we were assured, could
be found in vast numbers, we could not
possibly do it. We had exhausted our
food supply and the problem of revic-
tualing was becoming harder daily. Be-
sides, we were due back at Kinchasa by
a certain date; so we regretfully turned
the Florida's bows down-river and be-
gan our home ward journey. The cur
rent was strong and at the sharp bends
of the river we were obliged to proceed
with great caution, to avoid getting
aground or fouling on hidden snags.
Still, with all our precautions, we struck
on the banks repeatedly, and the Flor
ida sustained considerable damage. but
not enough to prevent US from continu-
ing our journey. Finally, we got
through the dangerous swells and cur
rents and into safe water, after which
our progress down stream was very
rapid.
On getting back to Baulu, we bought
ne ---~-4!A-- IF irorv-ahout 9 nm