The morning call., 1893-01-22

River In July last.EWhen he reachedfBer-
dera, his furthest point, he found the whole
bank swarming with natives. His crew, in
terror. begged Dundas TO turn back. He
made the boat fast, however, 10 the right
bank and sent a SOma INTERPRETER to talk
with the excited crowd. The natives
rushed down to the landing-piace, bran
dishing their spears and threatening TO kill
the interpreter II he came ashore. So Dun
das ordered him 10 return TO the vessel.
That night the explorer heard that
large boy OF natives was To attack The vessel
In few hours. He accordingly pushed his
vessel out from the shore and anchored IN
midstream. At II p. NJ a large number OF
natives were seen on the shore moving
among the trees. Suddenly they dashed
into the river and swan taward the vessel.
just as they were cambering on board. in
tending, doubtless, TO kill every man in the
party, DundRs fred sound signal, the
novelty of which he hoped would lutimidate
the savages. The signal was most effective.
Ii burst in midair with loud report. and
the natives made for the banks in terror.
Next morning Captain Dundas adopted
an expedient which probably not one man
in many thousands would care to carry out.
III g suddenly landed among the Somalis at
their big town. The Interpreter was with
him and both men were unarmed. He
pushed through the threatening crowd to
the sheik. expecting half dozen spears
through his back every moment as the
natives pressed around him with weapons
poised. He walked up TO the sheik, who
appeared too astonished for words.
"Aman." said Dundas. The word meant
"peace." he told his Interpreter 10 tell
the chief that he meant no harm and wished
to be a friend.
"How dare you come among us I'M
armed ?" said the sheik. sternly. DO you
not know that you are completely in my
power ard that l Can easily make an end
of you?"
Captain Dundas replied that he might do
so if he liked, but nc had done the chief and
his people no harm. and why should they
not be friends. II the Imperial East
Africa Company had desired to sieze the
Somali country he would have come with a
much larger force instead OF handful of
men.
The chief was apparently dumfounded
by the bardihood of his visitor After few
minutes he said that there should be peace,
at least until he had consulted his chiefs.
He babe Dandas go on board his
five hours the chief sent present on board
as a token that they would be friends. He
said he did not like white people. but he
rather liked Dnndas personally. After some
days they became great friends.
Captain Dundas went up the river few
miles to the rapids, where Baron Won der
Dickens ill-fated steamer, the Guelph, had
been wrecked twenty-seven years before
He found her lying on her starboard side
the funnel still standing, and two trees
growing up beside Ii. Dundas says the
Somali people are extremely proud and that
they do not on any account show the
slightest establishment at anything Not
even when the engines and Maxim guns
were shown to them did any expression of
wonder cross their faces They were all
armed with long spear. a short stabbing
knife and small shield.
Captain Dundas says the climate is excel
lent and he regards the country as admir-
ably adapted for cultivation and European
enterprise. The population along the river
has increased TO an enormous extent Where
formerly there were only few hamets
there arc now small towns of 600 to 1000
people. At one village he saw cotton grow
ing and men spinning it with wooden
loom and shuttle. The Somalis are very
strict Mohammedans. The younger girls
and women are mostly pretty, with large
black eyes. They are jealousy guarded by
tho women. and Europeans are hardly per-
mitted to look at them.