Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-29

---- such widespread in
terest. She was such an important person.
sge at the meeting of the British As.ociA-
tioD at Cardiff that / an1iously sought
cha; with her in order to hear from her own
lips something Of her adventures / found
the lady traveller in her lovely old-fash-
toned garden which is situated on the verv
hanks cf old Father Thames, enjoying the
delicious cool breczes waited from the
rIVef a noble tree overhangs the stream,
and in this Mrs French has ingeniously
constructed two most comfortable Seats &C
cess to which was gained by wooden stair
ease artistically covered with grass mating.
II looked SC delightfully."- cool and comfort
able there that ] readily responded to my
hostess invitation to Chamber up, and / was
pleased to notice that, in spite of her severe
accident, Mrs Sheldon was able to follow
me
Il am ordered to be out in the open air as
much as possible, she said. ''It is quite as
good u7 here as on the river; indeed, 1
prefer it
q should like my sex to feel proud of
ms, - she said when the subjec! of her work
was mentioned, ''and / can assure you
have done everything, and more than ever
hoped to accomplish.
Why She Made the Journey.
''Many motives have been ascribed to me
which ] never dreamt Of in undertaking my
expedition. 1 never professed any scientific
purpose. had no wish for geographical e1-
ploration; simply wanted to study the
native habits and customs free from the In
fuence of civilization in their primitive
condition, more especially among the
women. l started on my journey without
any companionship; not even medical man
accompanied me; my English stewsrdess,
too. the only white woman in nv expedition
was taken seriously i'll at the outset and had
70 be carried three-fourths of the way
In very dangerous condition. In the
expedition were $50 men, all person ally
d:sciplined, directed and led by myself A
great deal Of fuss has been made about this
same discipline. 1t must be remembered
that the majority of my caravan party were
unframed and unreliable; there was also q
disposition TO be rebellious Not only had
I to protect myself but the lives and prop
erty of those dependent upon me. I had to
gain absolute control over these savages,
and had to gain it by the discipline which
seemed most suitable.
Would Like to Have Shot Them.
''I visited portion of the country which
was solely inhabited by natives who had
never seen the face of white man, much
less a white woman. Day after day, in the
solitude of these deserts L encountered diff
cuities which were almost more than human
being could overcome There were times
when / really think, had / followed nv i'm
pulse, I should have shot more than one of
these savages. / lay awake night after
night trying TO solve the problem of justice
with mercy. Patience is essential in deal
ing with these na'ives, also absolute truth.
] never broke a promise 1 made to them,
but the EngliShman has established bad
name for want of good faith. The white
msn, they would say to me, promises much
when here, but he forgets all about it when
he is gone.
Il never shirked dangers or difficulties
myself ] was always the leader. If ford
had 10 be crossed, 1 always swan across the
first; If a mountain had to be climbed, L took
the lead l never asked them to do any,
thing more than did myself, and shared
every hardship with them equally. Thus 1
established reputation for courage and
truth while, if punishment had to be meted
out, it was done with justice, and 1 waited
patiently for the execution Of orders. They
saw ] had absolutely no fear, and they gave
u6 Gl6 name OF LDe L earleSS OnG.
A Descendant of Newton,
'fMy education as q child was help to
me. I was brought up like boy--to swim,
ride, shoot, fish, etc, and led free life.
] have always been great traveller; have
read most books of travel and have met
nearly all the great travellers. spent two
years in Cuba, and / have known Du
Chaillu. Garibaldi and other noted men. I
~, n
grandfather was Sir Isaac Newton; perhaps
inherited my perseverance and patience |
from him"
did you meet with opposition from the
various chiefs through whose districts YOU
passed."
''On the contrary, may saw without
egotism that L was treated like queen.
The natives could not understand a woman |
IL charge of a caravan; the called me in |
their language the woman-man.' They |
never showed me any rudeness; 1 received |
nothing but Difference and homage from the |
natives. The chiefs would constantly send
messengers and couriers ahead to find out if |
] intended to pass through their territory,
either going or returning. i went straight |
ahead TO hiiima-Nia iaro, completed the |
round and returned to the German side |
frequently received as many as ten oxen as
8 mark Of homage, and The natives would
come down to meet me. If ever they
avoided me or held aloof, / would go frankly
rP to them with extended hands and offer
them attractive gifts.
Fill the Trees With Skulls.
II particularly wished to get acquainted
with The women and children in their home
life, such as il is, and they freely admitted
me. I witnessed their marriage feasts and
even their sacred burial ceremonies. When
native dies the friends burn the body and
char il with many secret rites. They cut off
the head and place it with others of the
family in a tree trunk, burying the body
elsewhere. Hence the tree trunks are full
Of skulls, which travellers often find. 1t
must not be forgotten that these natives are,
at the best, savages. They were interested
in What ] showed them, but I question if
thev will ever be civilized; certainly not
until better communication has been opened
up. They do not care to adopt our manners
and customs, but prefer their own.
MANY of their customs would seem
strange to Us, perhaps repulsive; but / will
say this: 1 have seen far greater indecency
In London among civilized men and women
than l ever saw among these poor savages.
Their marriage customs are very strange,
hUt / cannot well enter into particulars
now. ] would like very much to give a Sc
Ties Of lectures upon the African woman to |