The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-07-23
AN AFRICAN WAR ENDED.
Whites and Arabs on Lake Nyassa Mako
Peace After Two Years Fighting


Peace After Two Years Fighting
Three years ago war began between
the Arab traders on the northern shores
of Lake Nyassa and the Scottish mis-
sionaries and agents of tie African
Lakes Company. This beautiful re-
gion, says the New York Sun, was one
of the greatest slave hunting grounds
of the Arabs. The white station at.
Karonga, on the northwest coaat of the
lake, intcrfered with the slave traffic
by protecting thousands of natives
against the Arab raiders. The Arabs
finally decided to wipe out all the
whites in that region, and they there
fore attacked the station at KarougK
For two years the war waged. Hardly
more than a bakers dozen of white
men with few hundred native allies
not only defended themselves against
the desperate attacks of the Arabs, hut
also ventured outside their own fortiff-
cations and marched miles to attack the
Arabs In their strongholds. In all the,
engagements neither side ever sue
ceeded in capturing the Notifications of
the enemy, but they inflicted u GOOD
deal of loss upon one another, and
brought all the evils of war upon the
northern districts of Lake Nyassa-
The war is now happily at an end
One of the purposes for which III. II
Johnston went to Lake Nyassa last
year was to endcavor to make peace be-
tween the belligerents. He found III
the northern end of the lake mission
aries ready at moments notice to
strap on their 1nuskets, and many
native soldiers whom they had drilled
to take part in the struggle. The gar
rison at Karonga had accumulated am
enormous stock of native provisions.
such as Indian corn, millet, manioc.
yams, sweet potatoes, and so on. to pre-
vent the possibilities of being starved
out by the Arabs during the long abb
sences of their steamer.
Johnston found that about half of the
white men had been compelled to leave
the place, owing to serious wounds or
sickness. Karonga was now in the
hands of four white men. They, with
their little native army, had completely
destroyed all the Arab crops and
sources of food supply, and We're so uu-
ceasingly harassing the Arabs with am
bushes and sharpshooters that the eait-
my were really confined to their stroug-
holds, and were being brought low By
gradual starvation. It was hard to say
which party would be the first to give
in. The British were getting very near
the bottom of their ammunition chest.
and the Arabs were eating rats, leather
and roots, besides being scourged by
smallpox.
1t was at this critical period that
Johnston arrived. He was unable to-
get party from Karonga to accompany
him to the Arabs, as they feared trespcfr-
cry, and the Arabs would not meet HIM
If he was accompanied by an armed
force. At last, with one white assistant
| and few porters he travelled half Way
to the Arab camp and sent on a unes-
senger to invite the Arabs to a netting
Ascertaining by their spies that he was
not at the head of an army, they put on
their best attire and came out to meet
him unarmed. The ice was broken,
and then and there the main principles
Of a treaty'of peace were drawn ups The
next day the treaty was signed. The
Arabs agreed to engage only in 1egftS
mate trade in that region, and to- Eve
IN peace with the whites. The wur
that lasted over two years has resulted
in the interest of civilizing influences.