Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-02-17


s4!y( %own canoe, swung
S&l9fZsHh.., himself aboard our
2g*.> ship, and, after
r making fast his lit
tie craft with a
lanyard, accosted me with, "Want a
boy, sir9"
"No."
''Me good boy, sir. Do anything. "
"No, thank YOU"
81 hear you go to Africa, and want
men. been to America, been fore the
mast, been coachman, been butler in
Brooklyn, with Mr.. Hines. I'd like to
go with you, SIR"
"Why, you are quite prodigyl How
old are you2"
"Seventeen, SIR"
now examined him closely. He was
tall, shapely, comely, intelligent young
man, with curly silk hair and look of
"quite ready for anything" about him.
"Well, what wages do you wantG"
Anything you like to give, sir. DOL
lar, two dollar. three dollar month.
You find out yourself b, m by what I
worth. If I'm no good, no money"
''Why, you are extraordinary; Til
give you ten shillings month, and we
shall see afterward. Eh2"
'Aw-right, sir"
And upon these terms Dualla, the
Somalia boy, entered my service. For
several months did not pay much heed
to him. There had been no occasion for
any exhibition of superior ability or
courage. ! observed, however, that on
Sunday Dualla attracted every eye by the
splendor and varigated colors of his
dress. One time he would resemble a
young Genoese dandy, another day he
would astonlsh us by rich Mussulman
attire. the Lext he would emerge from
his cabin q la Zanzibar, in tarboosh and
khansu, but always exceedingly trim and
clean. Still we had several smart young
ZanzibaIis, who, though not such
exquisites as Dualla, were, nevertheless,
favorites for their intelligence and dash,
and as yet there was no chance for
promotion.
One day new rifles were served to
Company No. /. They were taught
how 10 manipulate them, and how to
disconnect their parts. Finally target
was set up at point blank range, and a
prize was offered to the best shot, and
in order to show the Zanzibaris what
good shooting was, five European
officers were requested to step forward
and exhibit their skill. But, to my
shame, not one white man hit the target.
Dualla was called upon. Straight as
an arrow he stood second and fired.
plugging the target near the center.
A few weeks later while engaged on
the highway for the wagons. l wished
to make an ''indent" for provisions on
the Main Depot below, and asked the
commissarlat officer how many rations
he had distributed that morning. He
took out his note book and turned the
leaves over backward and forward 50
often that at last got impatient and
said:
"Do You mean to say you do not re-
member how many rations you arc daily
serving out9"
''1'll tell you directly, SIR" waited
pen in hand for another five minutes.
My time was valuable; every minute
was precious.
"Here, Dualla," at last cried. "Tell
this gentleman how many ratlons he
served out this morning." never suspect
ing that he did know, but as an indirect
chaff at the commissariat.
"One hundred and forty-eight, sir.
One hundred and forty-eight pounds
rice, one hundred and forty eight pounds
BEANS" he replied.
"How do you know" asked, aston
ished.
81 help weigh them. SIR"
"That will do, thank you."
At Stanley Pool an officer requested
the loan of our new steel barge that he
might proceed up river and visit his
friends at the next station.
The steel boat pulled twelve oars and,
completely equipped and launched on
the Upper Congo, had cost us about
$oO0. 1t was lent with an injunction
that on his return he should draw her
up carefully on the beach out Of harms
way and paddock her chain. The Lieu
tenant faithfully promised, went up
river, and on coming back reported him
self and assured me of the security of
the boat.
The next morning the boat was need
ed for special service. But she was not
on the beach, and no one knew what
had become of her.
The Lieutenant was questioned, and it
was discovered thst he had given the
orders for securing the boat, but had not
waited to see his orders carried out.
The crew, it then transpired, had simply
rowed her ashore, and each man had
sprung out and gone to his own mess.
It was then obvious to all of us that the
surge from the Great Cataract, which
was but two miles below, had entered