Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-02
CoNQUERoRs OF THE FRENCH CONGO.
An African Tribe That Numbers Millions
and Fought Its Way to the Sea.

An African Tribe That Numbers Millions
and Fought Its Way to the Sea.
From the New York Sun.
The French Congo country is five times the
size Of France. 1t is believed that it contains
S,0OOC COO people. and more than half Of them
are Pahouins, as De Brazza calls them, or Fans.
as Du Chaillu made them known. Those who
know them best say their name is properly
Fangs They are by far the most remarkable
people in west Africa
The Fanas lord It over every people they
meet. Years ago they swooped down upon the
coast natives from the interior Just as the
hordes OF barbarians invaded western Europe.
they are among the creates. cannibals in ex-
istence. One of the most careful studies made
OF the Fangr is that Of the Rev. P. Leieune. a
missionary. who has lived among them for
some Years. In most books and records thew
are referred to rs the Pahouins. This. how
ever, Is the name applied to them by their en-
smies. The word Pahouin is synonymous with
savage or thief and is, perhaps, a fitting desig-
nauon OF the race Of csnnibals who invaded all
the valleys of the Gaboon territory.
The single tribe of tho Betsi Fanps accord-
ing to De Brazza, numbers over 2, 600 600 souls.
ineir most important villages are from three
TO ten miles back from the rivers. Father
Leleune estimates that along the Ogowe river
riom Lampsrene to Ndyole there are 200, 600
rangs. But all the rivers forming a network
through the country are in the possession of
THIS race. They are divided into three princi-
pal tribes, whose dialects differ widely from
one another. 1t is easy to see. however. that
tnelr languages came not long ago from COM
mn source, anu 'hat tine emigration of large
oodies OF the great tribe produced marked dia-
lectic differences N-"
There are very few whites who know any,
tnihs OF their language. The difficulty of its
construction, the indistinctness with which il
Is pronounced. the nasal tone in which the
words are uttered. and the excessive syiftness
OF speech Of the Fangs have DISCOURAGED most
white men who have tried to master the lam
gnage. small dictionary of their tongue
however. has been made by Father Leie1ne'
he says ne found tbs task very difficult. and
frequently he was on the point of abandonino
it in despair. He could find no interprete11
among them who could translate their speecb
or his own. The Fangs would not take him
seriously, and gave him much misinformation.
| Finally he found some Fang children who had
| taken service in white factories along the
Ogowe and had learned the Mpongue language.
The priest obtaineda large vocabulary from
| these children
The adult Fangs decline to learn any other
language. Ii they engage in trade they speak
Fang II they have any controversy with an
| other tribe they will discuss the merits of the
case only In the Fang tongue. 1t is absolutely
even other negro tribes, if they are to make
Roadway and get on with the Fangs. to learn
| their language. The commerce of Gaboon is
in their hands. They alone supply ivory to
white traders. l. a merchant understands
their language business is speedily transacted.
If he talks through an interpreter it Sometime
takes days to complete sale.
Inc Fangs have saying that 'the Fang Is
he who kills the elephant; the white man is an
elephant" which is their way of saying that
the white man 10 rather stupid. This ex.
presses their opinion Of many of the traders
and missionaries they meet German trader
living at Lambarene, on the Ogowe river, some
years ago began to study the Fang language
Now nearly all the Fang rubber and ivory deal.
ers flock to him. and he controls the larger part
of the trade, to the great disadvantage Of mer.
chants who have not his attanments
Other tribes try to conceal the fact that they
are cannibals. The Fangs are proud of it. Ii
one asks them why they left the land Of their
| fathers and invaded this region near the sea
they simply reply, "We came here to eat u
Yet they believe in a god who governs all
things They believe that thieves and assas.
sins are punished III eternal fire. They ,have
made some progress In the forging of iron but
| are not nearly advanced in their arts az
many less active, acute and powerful tribes
They are constantly engaged in war with
! neighboring villages OF their own people OF
wi h the tribes among whom they have in.
than complete mastery of the SOIL They cal
| their prisoners, men who are killed in battle
| unfortunates whom they catch struggling in
the woods and boatmen of tribes with whom
| they are ut war.
But the most Of the soldiers now employed
py the french government III their Congo pos
sessions are Fangs. They have proven them
| selves brave and easily disciplined. The gov
eminent Is enlisting large number of them te
man the various stations. They form the mos
OF the escort Of every French exploring party
quite number OF them were killed in the un
fortunate Crampel expedition. Cannibal
themselves. they were eaten by the cannibali
who killed the French officer Musy on thu
Mobangi They fought braSely in Frances re
cent war against the Amazons Of Dahomey
Father Lajeune believes the Fangs are capable
OF civilization and that they will be found mos
| useful allies OF the French in West Africa. Sew
eral hundred Fang children are now learning
French in the missionary schools