New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-05
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TRAVELS IN AFRICA.


TRAVELS IN AFRICA DURING THE YEARS 1 foD,
1893 BY DR.. Wilhelm Junkcr: Translated iron, rom
the German by A. IL. Kcane +. X g. ;. inu n
trated svo DID, Az. London: Chapman Han.
The latest volume OF Dr. Junker's travels In Africa
contains a partial account of his explorations In the
Equatorial Province whittier he proceeded by way OF
Khartoum From the latter place he went 10 Meshfa
Er-Rig TO Dem Soliman. to udaruma's. TO the we've
Mahuia and made long stay at Prince MahOahea y
Thence he passed eastward to Taneasi from the
Welle back TO Udarumas, then through A'Madi Ehd
IN the h-Barmbos and back TO the A-Madi. where he
resided for tlmc. and next proceeded 10 ha""sh
Station whence he travelled to the ChIci b"hahsdi'
This itinerary will give sufficient idea OF inc scope
and field of his wanderngs, but there Is pecuha'IN
about the character OF his travels which, whle lo'
some readers it may have the eject OF mohotOhE' WI"
be found very suggestive by Others. This pccuDar'
1ty IS the absence OF fighting snd blood>heo
throughout the book. We have become 50 "ccus
toned in African travels TO constant Da'ues anu
skrmlshes with warike and hostile tribes 'ha'
traveller who goes quietly into the heait OF "'e
country without small army ana VINO manages ~
carry out his purposes without shooting some scores
Of negroes, is quite phenomenon.
Or. Junker, moreover. IS veteran u"'ehei anu
knows the people of Africa we'll. In preparing Io' HIS
last journey he provided number OF oolec'9 o a"'o
nent for the behoof of the natives. such as no
African explorer before him had thought OIL AMONG
these things were ingenious toys, moved by cocN-
,xor, or electricity: illustrated books; maronette
figures; masks; miniature railway musiodi ~.
rtruments: and to crown all, deeptoned barrel
organ The success of all these things was imhe'h"'o
md constant The fame OF them soon spread through
all the region, and chiefs Wed With each o'hcr III
Soliciting his residence at their villages. All, OF
nearly ALL the time lie travelling-at least wheh
he had left Lacrima Station, when he Hl'Nio n''
Headquarters. he thrown among Olcherlhs vi ""'
ring tribes each OF whom predicted his speedy ueStru'
tlon IL he passed beyond their boundaries But nc
in bis
him ANYWHERE while notwithstanding his virtually De
iencelas condition, his advice was eagerly sought,
and save I'm a few exceptional cases, he was ue@eu
with honor and respect.
Dr. Jrnker chrrishes no illusions on the SuDIecV III
the African negro, however. lie holds that the
Kharioum Govern ment made a fatal bunder IN sNl'1
tile tribes of the Equatorial Province their hV"u'
after having by stern discipline brought ITEM 10
neace and subsection. lie believes that long hiue
must clapse before they can be BIT for full liberty 'V
they must be made feel the strong mana OF 'he gov
erament steadily that their fckleness Is Sch ta' ID
confidence can lie put IN their promises unless 'reI
Lnow that treachery or duplcity Will be swiftly ana
sharply uuristcd The case o. Man!banga. described
in This yolrme is strongly in point. That chei pro
tessed the deepest respect for the Turk government
rs all government by white men Is called ana even III
i.d nm eoing through the ceremony of bloodbroihe-
hood with Dr. Junker. Vet ne was so suspicious ""'
fI Of fantastic fears that at the last II was found I'M
nossib,o 10 SECURE his submission by peaceful nesoF
tion and he had to be crushed by troops from MAR
tonm 20 doubt potent cause OF ml9chlci l. .no
dependence OF all the Iati9e chiefs nroA onch' Inns
ancient superstition nomishes in Africa a vigorously
as il ever did at Rome ard an unidVoGabe omen VIII
at auy time upset the results Of the most protFaeed
and patient negotiation.
The Doctor repeatedly expresses the OPINION tha' il
is Idle to attempt to suppress the Sl'Vet"ue - Io7
as the delusion is INDUCED that the Arabs are alone '
spopsble for IT, asserts emphatcally that If there
was not single Arab in Africa the slave tiahc WohId
go on for the nesroc, themselves have beeh 80
hahit,atcd TO for centuries that they are unable 70
Give IL m Tie Equatorial tribes he thinks have not
vet reached of development at which II Is pos
sblc 10 rouse in them any feelings OF humanity leN
ore cruel and Indifferent to suffering pececN a. ohlE
oren are Another African traveller has described how
ono OF the tribes the coast used to ausc them
selves nv fastening bags of gunpovder TO the limbs
OF their prisoners and setting them OF )ast TO sec e
fellows Jump; and when demonstrated with 10Y TINS
practice the nnGCeat savagcs could not AT All uuc'
,snd the force OF the objection 80 it is with all the
African negroes. according Ia Dr. Junker ana because
it is lac maintains that they must be Kept IN .u'e
,ace As 10 converting them 10 Christianity, he fears
that the missionaries have been far TOO sangunc ana
too easily satisfied with superficial evidence OF canRe
of heart. The people, he contends VINO a''ehu
The Christian missions. VIII join the Mahd the moment
the white out OF sight ara this Is "h''' DC
tnaly happened later on.
We see something OF Cess Pacm and captain 'asau
~ .,i. ,.olur,e Gordon too. and Emin Pacha are
IN evidence though the author did not actually meet
IN. two latter on present journey, but was Only
ir correspondence with them The results OF employ
ing Arabs 10 command Government troops and 10 hold
Government places Of authority and trust. Dr. Junkcr
declare, 10 have been generally unfortunate vet II
was at the time practically impossible 70 take any
other course. since all power placed in native hahds
uas SIRE 70 be abused much worse than 10y the Arabs
md they were bad enough. During his long stays
with rdarurra and Mambanga. Dr. Junkcr had very
good opportunities for studying the manners ana
customs Of the natives. lie found that even cannbas
were fond Of their children. Women, in all savage
countries are treated with contempt and made to
do all the hardest work. TattoOing and painting the
hody prevail generally and all kinds Of inutihtlon
are pactsed for the sake of decoration The traveller
was much struck the endless grfdations OF color
among the Equatorial tribes, and SAYS; il confirmed
nv own impression, and that OF other travellers that
the color of the skin is absolutely unreliable criterion
for tribal distinctions J. Of course here exclude the
extreme cases Of peoples separated by great distances
as for instance the intensely dark shuhs compared
with the much lighter Manghaters and Wagandas' who
may doubtless be grouped according To color. But
among kindred tribes, such Is the dark Zandehs, !
have met people with very light almost yellow leather
skins and the other hand very dark people among
the Manghatters and other southern tribes
Dr. Junker gives very clear description Of the
region through which he lourneyed. and his book Is
fully and carefully illustrated. lie did good deal
Of surveying and mapmakins. and though much Of
the time spent in negotiating peace between tho
warning tribes seems have been expended with any
permanent results, there can be no doubt that some
temporary good WAS effected. The Doctor writes
Interestingly and few travellers have studied the
people of Africa more dispassiOnately and kindly