The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-03
} AN AFRICAN WAR ENDED.

Whites and ARABIA on Lake NyassA Mako
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 the 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 ut
Karonga, on the northwest coast Of the
lake, intcrferod 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 Karonga-
For two years the war waged Hardly
more than bakers dozen of white
men with n few hundred native allies
not only defended themselves against
the desperate attacks of the Arabs, but
also ventured outside their own fortif-
cations and marched miles to attack tho
Arabs in their strongholds. In I'LL tho
engagements neither side ever sue
ceeded in capturing the Notifications of
the enemy, but they inflicted good
deal of loss upon ono another, and
brought all the evils of war upon the
northern districts of Lake Nyassa-
The war is now happily at I'M end.
One of the purposes for which Ii. Fl.
Johnston went to Lake Nyassa last
year was to endeavor to make pence be-
tween the belligcrcnts. He found ut
the northern end OF tho lake mission
aries ready ut e. moments notice to
strap on thcir muslScts, and many
native soldiers whom they had drilled
to take part in the struggle. Tho gar
rison ut Knronga had accumulated IN
enormous stock of native provisions,
such as Indian corn, millct, manioc,
yams, sweet potatoes, and so on, to pre-
vent the possibilities of beinSe starved
out by the Arabs during tho 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 were so I'M
ceasingly harassing the Arabs with am
bushes and sharpshooters that tho enc
my were really confined to their strong
holds, and were being brought low by
gradual starvation. 1t 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 treach-
cry, and the Arabs would not meet him
if he was accompanied by IN armed
force. AT last, with one white assistant
and few porters, he travelled half way
to the Arab camp and sent on n mes
senger to invite the Arabs to 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 treaty of peace were drawn up. The
next day the treaty was signed The
Arabs agreed to engage only in legiti-
mate trade in that region, and to live
IN peace with the whites. The war
that lasted over two years has resulted
i'll the interest of civilizing influences.