Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-03-11
AFRICAN HEADMEN.

SuCcumpeu 10 the terr1ble prlvatlOnS OF
the journey. Now and then one among
these Zanzibar porters, who are an es-
&ential part of every expedition, be-
comes widely known through the supe-
riors ervices he renders. Such men were
Chuma and Susi, the wcll-known head
men, who were long in the service of
Livingstone, to whose worth and value
he paid many tributes in his diaries,
who finally brought his body hundreds
of miles to the sea, restoring it to his
friends, and receiving the thanks and
substantial rewards from the British
Parliament. Another of these stanch
Iarizibaris IS the headman of Ali Hi
ongwe, who is type of all that is best
in the fine Swahili people, who inhabit
the African coast near Zanzibar This
man has rendered services to African
exploration which have attracted the
Intention of geogTaphers, and his jour
neys have been recorded in at least one
of the leading geographical periodicals.
When he was only fifteen years old
he accompanied an Arab caravan to
Lake Nyassa and the river Loangwa.
On this occasion he showed his remark
able facility for acquiring the leading
African dialects spoken in these re-
;Sions, talent which has been of
great service to the explorers whos
in later years, he accompanied. In
1875, when still very young
man, he joined Stanley's expedition,
and with that explorer made the
memorable journey across Africa, when
the secret of the Congo was discovered.
Il little later. Stanley returned to the
Congo to develop that region under the
auspices of King Leopold. One of the
irst things he did was to send to Zanzi-
bar for Ali Kiongwe, and for three
years the man served Stanley up and
down the river, proving one of the most
faithful of assistants. He was often in
charge OF large bodies of porters OF
road-mallers, and was one of the few
Africans who seemed equal to any duty.
In 1884 he joined the expedition of ii.
II. Johnston to Kilima-Njaro, and tue
explorer says that in scores of instances
he showed great bravery, astutepass and
fertility of resource. Then for tirae
lie was IL the service Of the Hnivers tiles
mission in Usamhara, having charge of
the entire business of transportation
from the sea to the mission stations
among the mountains. When Count
tons three or four years ago he was
very glad to engage this man at Zanzi-
bar to take charge of his porterage serv-
lie. lie accompanied the Count
through Masailand, and Shis Journey re-
-ulted in the discovery OF TIE two salt
lakes, Rudolph and Stephanie, and sc4-
tlea the fact that the enormous sea,
which was supposed to exist under the
name Of Samburu, is myth. 1s1is is
one OF the most noteworthy contl.ibu-
hons recently made to the geography of
Africa, anu Count TclelSi was profuEe
IN his praises Of Ali Kiongwe for his
contribution to the SUCCESS of the expe-
Iition. .
little later this now famous
Swahili was engaged by the wealthy
Englishmap, Guy Dawnay, to lead his
hunting expedition into Masailand, an
expedition which had very tragical
ending, for the white man who had
aired the party at great expense to 30
WAS him in search Of sport on the r.,
African plateau met his death by q
buffalo, which gored and trauapled him
ender foot as they confronted one
9n@Sher in the sumo path On this &C.
caslon hlongwe showed his pluck and
cunning. The Massi savages were first
10 discover the tragedy, and they took
possession, of the unfortunate white
han's body They robbed it Of the
watch and rings which Mp. Dawuay
wore. They arc one of the hardest
Eeopls TO deal with in Africa, but the
3wahi!i hqadman succeeded in obtain
2h1g Prom them all the valnablcs which
aiey had appropriated. He restored
ate&a TO Dawnay's relatives, who have
Sresented kiopgwe with q watch and
Saain MS u mark of their esteem.
In the expedition which II. ii. Johns /
tonrecentlS led from the mouth, of the
Hambesi to TauganyilSa, Kiongwe was
N charge OF his portcrage service, ard
his employer paid an ample tributn Of !
praise ta his honesty, pluck and de.