Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-04-10
CONGO CARRIERS.
TRANSPORTING GOODS IN Az
I.ICA5 CATARACT REGION.
Expert Native Packers, Who Carry
Heavy Loads Long Distance
Daily Markets Along the Trail
Pay Of the Carriers.

""'A5""tN ""'Ci VAtSEuiuS HUN Juo'
above the place for two hundred miles,
with the exception of few stretches,
possible, however, of navigation, but at
great risk, and only with experienced
skill. This part of the country is known
as the cataract region. Further progress
into the interior is now to be effected by
an overland march of two hundred and
fifty miles, until navigablc waters are
again reached. Matadi has now assumed
vast proportions as forwarding station
for the caravan service from this place to
Leopoldville.
At present the only means is manual
transport; every pound of merchandise
and stores which goes into the interior
has to be carried on mems heads and
shoulders. The tribes inhabiting the
lower reaches of the Congo, or cataract
region, are expert packers; from child
hood the boys accompany native caravans
from the interior to the coast, and thus
receive an early training as pack animals
by assisting their fathers and brothers and
masters by carrying light loads.
In 1889 upward of 10000 loads, aver
aging sixty-fyc pounds each, were car
ried over the road from Matadi to Leo
poldville This trail is now we'll worn
between these points. From any of the
heights along the road birds eye view
shows the winding trail pencilcd on hill
side and across the plains.
In the dry season, when the streams
are easily forded and the carriers have
not to suffer the inconvenience and dis
comfort of the rain, the caravan road
seems almost one continuous line Of the
natives, who tramp along always in sin
gle file One minute gang of thirty is
met, all trudging along with a swinging
gait. Each man carries seventy pounds OF
wire and bales OF cotton stuff, and the
next caravan to be seen may be partly
loaded with sections of boats and tools;
others-will be carrying boxes of provi-
sions, and occasionally a native trader
with a cargo Of elephants tuskS, or if on
his return journey from the coast, he will
be weighted down with the various mis-
cellany of property which old Chief Lu-
teto or Makoko have obtained from the
white traders in exchange for their costly
ivory.
At different points along the trail daily
markets are held, where the natives of
the outlying hamlets meet under some
spreading tree to exchange their peanuts,
palm nuts and oil, yams, sweet potatoes,
bananas, pineapples, dried snakes and
mice, and other African delicacics with
the hungry porter for his gay-striped
handkerchief, blue baft or beads. The
carriers are spare. built individuals, but
their endurance is phenomenal. A dis.
tancc Of one hundred miles is often ira.
versed by them in five days, which is no
feeble task for a man nourished with a
few peanuts or bananas, and with a
seventy pound load on his head. He has
no smooth path to travel over. The
caravan trail leads through the sitting,
heated valleys, where he must often push
his way through the long, coarse grass,
waving twenty feet above ones head and
dropping across the trail; and the steep
ascent, where the path winds up the
mountain sides and over the hill-tops.
adds not to the facility of his task; but
lie trudgcs manfully along, halting in
some shady nook when tired, where he
enjoys light luncheon of few inches
of shrieveled snake and a banana or
two.
AT nearly every brook or spring these
natives take big draught of the de-
licious cool water, and in the middle of the
day throw down their loads and lie down
at full length and enjoy the soothing
weed in some form or other, some by
smoking Others prefcrring to enjoy the
narcotic in the shape Of snuff. This
latter habit is very prevalent among the
people along the lower reaches of the
Congo. Nearly every one has his little
pouch of powdered tobacco-leaves and
ashes, and the clumsy habit OF convey
ing the mixture TO their noses on tie
blades of their big knives gives them
ludicrous appearance, as their whole face
becomes smeared with the brown powder;
this snufTy condition is considered
''style." They are good tempered,
friendly folks, and salute all strangers
with their greeting of "mbote," which
word, by the way, has a varied meaning.
Good-morning, good-afternoon, glad to
see you, sorry you have to 90, very well
hank you, all right, goodbye, and |
kindred expressions, can all be inferred |
Dy the one word "mbote."
In the rainy season, when the streams
become swollen, whole caravans are kept
waiting until the food decreases. Some
If the streams has, to be crossed in
,anoes, and over some of them swinging
,ridges have been thrown, ingeniously
constructed Of rattan cane and plated
ibre.
Each gang OF carriers is under a
'kapita,' or head man. lie gets ono
mans pay only, but in consideration of