Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-15


lingering torture or sudden as the lightning
strikes.
THE JOYFUL LIGHT
FINALLY, after 16O days of marching we
emerged from the iorest. Then our eyes
danced with rapture, for we beheld fresh
young grass spreading out into howery
fields and pasture, and then beyond round
and picturesqueiv nodded hills. Such a
sight we hailed with shouts of praise and
loud thanksgiyings and murmurs of worship
according 10 our respective faiths.
"The delicious grass, the warbling OF
birds, this summer loveliness of the land
and the warm life and beauteous earth re-
posing in peace caused us to be lost in
rapture. Our men had dreams OF joy and
they called 1t heaven.
Its length was 620 English miles from
North to South and from West to East 500
miles. 1t comprised 800, 900 square miles,
the whole equal to 400, 900 square miles.
''In the beginning of 1886 the Arab slave
trade was there. In 1870 short excursions
were made into this region, and in 1880 two
Arab expeditions set out from the Congo on
the northeastern track. BY 1887 they had
gained footing and they built two stations,
each 100 miles apart, forming the apex of d
triangle. They began to hunt systematic
ally for slaves. For 20 miles around they
looted and burned villages.
Before five months had passed there was
a line of complete devastation 257 miles
long Not one village had been lett stand
ing. This was the reason that In 1887 for
several months we suffered so much from
hunger.
HEwN PATHWAYS.
ave had TO hew our way through the
bush with the ak. So dense was it that our
progress was at the rate OF 400 yards an hour
for many days. After several months labor
our pace increased to a mile and one mile
and three-quarters per hour as the forest be-
came less dense. The pioneers blazed the
trees at every few yards or our guidance.
By the time the whole column had passed
the trail would be pretty clear and would so
remain for perhaps six months. But on
some days the pioneers, despite the utmost
care. would lose all knowledge of the d.
rection in which they were going. Some
times a game path would lead them astray.
Sometimes inability to pass a creek would
compel them to 90 inland and then they
would rely too much upon their wood knowl-
edge to regain the right direction. The
caravan was frequently wandering in the
wood for several days before it could make
anv headway on the right course.
''As we progressed further the nature of
the difficulties that beset us changed. We
would hear such cries IRON our guides as,
Game out to the rightp Look out for
swampy ground, 'boggy ground with no
bottom, elephant pit right ahead and so
on. These warnings, while they served to
prevent us from falling into pitfalls, retarded
the march.
THE NAMELESS PEOPLES.
"There would be general hilaritY if
were to attempt to enumerate the names of
the various tribes through whose lands we
passed. 1t would be far more convenient to
say that the inhabitants of the forest are di-
vided into big people and little people, tall
people ana pigmies. The pigmies are the
restless little nomads who wander about in
the woods, seldom Iarrying in one place
long. The bigger people are much like
other Africans, but not so dark in complex
ion as the dwellers on the plains.
Each tribe has its distinctive marks.
Some shave their heads. some wear their
hair long or in ringlets. Their ornaments
consist of crocodile, monkey or human teeth,
strung together and wornIas necklaces or
bracelets, and collars of shining iron.
''Their clothing consists OF a breach clout.
Their weapons are spears, bows and arrows,
broad knives and sometimes battle axes or
swords. These latter are used to make clear
ings in the woods. They are addicted to
cannibalism, but it must not be supposed
that they iced on their own relatives or tribe.
Nor must it be supposed that they make raids
for the purpose Of obtaining these luxuries.
Neither is a victim easy to secure. Tribes
are too far apart to render 1t easy of accom-
plishment, but if a neighboring community
10 or u miles off should advance against
the village there might possibly be an 'acci.
dent and thus body may be secured for q
social feast.
VICTIM READY.
81 once witnessed preparations for can
nibal dinner One day when nearly oppo.
site village fired shot into the open all
to give warning of the approach of our flo.
tilla to an Arab chief and to indicate that