Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11

izing and the press of America and Europe
was printing the most narrowing stories
of Arab outrages, Hodister wrote his
defense of the Arabs, in which he asserted
that many of them are not cruel; that many
of them are not slave raiders; that any pol
icy looking to the suppression of the Arabs
, in Central Africa would be a blunder and
cruelty unjust, and that ii properly treated
they could be made friendly and helpful to
white enterprises.
Tho Worst May Not BE Known.
There is grave reason to fear that this
| trouble began on Lake Tanganyika, and
that it may have involved the French Cath
olics and the English missionaries at
Karema, St Louis, Mpala and Ksvala and
the little anti-slavery army in the SER
vice of the Congo State on the west side
of the lake under the command of Captain
Jacques. The reasons for solicitude with
regard to these enterprises are weighty and
have been promulgated by no less authori-
| ties than the Marquis de Bonchamps, who
was at Lake Tanganyika early this year, by
A. j. Wauters Secretary of the katanga
syndicate and editor of Le Moasuenae,at Geo.
qraphigue and by officials of the Kongo
State. The troubles in Tabora have cut off
communication with Tanganyika for some
months
Joubert and Jacques for a year past have
been making war on Arab slave raiders on
the shores of the lake, and have freed many
slaves Early this year Joubert also under
took to levy a tax upon Arab caravans
bringing ivory from the West to transport
across the lake and to.the sea- The Kongo
State officials say he was not authorized to
impose this tax. This impost kindled the
wrath of Rumaliza, the powerful Arab chief
at Ujiii on the east side of the lake, and in
April last he attacked one of Joubert's
stations At last accounts Rumaliza was
pressing his enemy hard, and the latest
word from Joubert was that his supplies
were running low, and that unless he re-
eeived speedy relief all the white interests
on the lake would be at the mercy of the
Arabs.
Not Tippu Tib This Tim.
1t is believed at Brussels that Rumaliza
is at the bottom of the uprising; that he
may possibly have inflicted no one kno ws
what fate, upon the Tanganyika stations;
that his bands crossed Manyema to Ny
angwe and induced the Arabs there to join
them in killing the four white men who
had reached that point; and that the in
surgent force then divided, a art going
down the Kongo to Riba-Riba to destroy
that post, while the other crossed to the
Lomami and killed all the white men but
two at the three stations on that river. 1t
should be said, however, that no positive
proof has been received that Rumaliza took
part in the uprising, and the Tanganyika
region may not be involved in the Kongo
revolt 1t is certain, however, that MUM
Mukarra, the Arab chief of Kasongo, was a
leading spirit in the insurrection.
The war on the Tanganyika slave traders,
the tax on ivory and the influx of white
traders are not the only events that have
excited the hatred of the Arabs and led to
this deplorable tragedy. South of the
Lomami stations is Lusambo, on the
Sankuru river, where Mr.. Dhanis, an agent
of the Kongo State, recently attacked a
large force of Arab slave raiders, killed ten
of their chiefs, and took ZOO prisoners. Far
north on the Makua river, Vandekerk-
hoven, for year past, has occupied sta
tion with strong force of Kongo State
soldiers. Almost isolated from the world
as he is, he has been able to send to the
Kongo reports of two hard battles with
strong forces of Arab slave raiders in which
he defeated and drove them north of the
river.
More. Than the Arabs Would Stand.
This news greatly excited hundreds of
Arabs living at Isangi, at the mouth of the
Lomami and at Stanley Falls, and the
chiefs sent a protest to the Kongo State
authorities. The most vehement aud indig-
nant protest came from Rachid, who COM
mands large force of Arabs at Isangi, and
who led the revolt against the Europeans in
1885 when the station at Stanley Falls fell
into his hands.
When the news of the Hodister disaster
was carried down the Kongo, as fast as
steamer could go, there was grave reason to
fear that the victorious Arabs would hasten
to Rachid at Isangi, and to the chiefs at
Stanley Falls, and incite them to join the
rebellion and raid down the river, DESTROY
ing the State stations established on its
banks. The Arab chiefs at Stanley Falls
include son of Tippu lib. The relations
of these chiefs with the whites have long
been very pleasant, and it was hoped that
they would Withstand all temptations to re-
volt Unfortunately Tppu lib is at Zan-
zibar. No one credits him with any special
liking for the whites, but he has a keen eye
for his own interests, and as the most pow
erful and influential Arab in Central Africa
his presence there in the present crisis
would probably be of great value to the
Kongo State.
Native Soldiers Sent TO the Front.
The Kongo State at once sent up the river
all OF its native soldiers who could be taken
from Leopoldville and Bangala 1t has q
strongly fortified post at Basoko, at the
mouth of the Aruwimi river, and hundreds
of the Basoko cannibals, who chased Stanley
down the river, yelling "meat, meat" now
wear the uniform of the State. A part of
the reinforcements have been added to the
garrison at Basoko, and strong force has
also been posted at the mouth of the
Lomami to keep an eve on the movements
of Rachid.
The latest letters from the upper Kongo |
are reassuring. and their general effect is 20 |
show that an extension of the troubles |
further down the river wil probably be |
prevented. 1t may take much time and |
money, however, to assert the authority of |
the State over the large region now in revolt |
CYRUS G. ApAlLA