Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-18
Female Camp Followers I'm Africa.

From the New York sun.
Quite large number of the people whom
Stanley has just brought from Central Africa
are women and children, the families of the
Egyptian soldiers who abandoned the upper Nile
with Emin. Native women have taken an ac-
tive part in the tolls and harlships of nearly
every exploring expedition that has entered
Africa. One of the most pathetic incidents in
the story OF Staney's first journey across the
dark continent was that OF the woman who. fol-
lowing the fortunes OF her husband trudCed
from sea to sea- and then died OF her privations
at the mouth of the Congo, just as the party
were about to take the steamer on their home
ward journey.
Col. Gttllieni says that one of the most curious
incidents of his laDors in Senegal was the ragi-
ment OF women that constantly followed his
columns as he pushed through the wilderness
to the upper Niger. There was great lamcnta-
ton in his camp three years ago when hc made
his rapid march against the Marabout Lamine.
because he declined TO let the women accom-
retard the rapid march of his troops. A little
later however, the women and children Joined
the column it marched to the Niger and
Galllcnl says the women were among the most
useful members of the expedition. His black
soldiers unlike the French troops. did not like
to occupy themselves with culinary details and
other work of the camp. They left all these
cares to their women, who took charge of the
ratlons and prepared the meals. and on the
march they lightened the burdens OF their
HUSBANDS by carrying good share OF the bag
gage. The soldiers, having little but their
arms and munitions to carry, were able to make
longer marches. Il have rarely had any
cause" says Col. Gallitn Ito complain OF
these women, who readily adapted themselves
to our min tary discipline"
The unmarried soldiers found that their
more fortunate comrades were able to take
life much easier than they and therefore did
not fail to improve any favorable OF portunty
OF getting wives Among tie Spots OF war
was the harem of the Marabout Lamine and
the ladies cheerfully consented to make an
equal number OF bachelors happy. Thereafter
these women were among the most faithful
workers in the camp and apparently had no re-
grets for their former lord, vino ran away
from them
In their long journeys through Africa, Capella
and lvens, the Portuguese explorers regularly
enlisted women well as men, and found
them most useful adjuncts to their expeditions
they said the women carried loads nearly as
heavy as those of the men, did all the cooking
and made fewer complaints. number of ex-
p!orers give similar testimony to the value OF
women on long expeditions.
1he notion that women are inferior to men
curlously enough has led to very different
results IN two countries widely separated. II
Is found that many Burmans are anxious to
have their sons attend English schools, believ-
ing their chances in life are thus improved; but
they are not ct all anxious that their daughters
should have similar advantages In Senegal
on the other hand, when the French recently
besought the chiefs to trust them with their
sons TO be educated at government expense,
some OF the natives replied: I'VE wish to keep
our boys at home to fit them to be chiefs them
selves But if you want girls, you can have all
you will take; and teach them everything in
the books. "