The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-21

something the matter with her. She would
send for me and when | appeared before
her drive me away. and at other times be
very sweet and pleasant. Then she forbid
my taking any trinkets or presents from
the chiefs of the villages We passed through:
and would not allow me to see them until
they demanded that / be brought forward.
She seemed TO want them TO think she was
the only one In the party. The interpreter
was always told TO announces her as
greater woman than Queen Victoria, and
that she had more Jewels and wealth than
any body In the world.
The magnificent dress and the jeweled
sword. which she speaks of in her book as
used TO awe the different chiefs. never ex-
listed. She did change her dress before en-
teriDg q village. but the one she put on
wasn't worth f2. IL was made of light
material. decked out with fancy ribbons
and sham trinkets. She never made much
OF An impression on the chiefs and the men
In our caravan hated her. and would have
all run away the first two weeks If they
had not feared the wrath of the Sultan.
She used TO Lave them whipped on the
slightest provocation, and always made
them salute her when she passed.
MRS. sHELDoN's TYRANNY.
Zone day after a long journey we reached
a watering place and the tired bearers
threw down their burdens, and. as Is the
custom. fell beside them on the grass to rest.
j also laid down with them. While we were
lying there Mrs. Sheldon came by and or
dered all to get up and salute her. myself
lncluded. / thought she was Joking. but
she drew her pistol and threatened TO kill
me If did not comply with her comma nd.
This Is only q sample.
AT all the villages we were well re-
ceived as a rule, having plenty of presents
to give the chiefs. At one place We came
10 n chief named Mariala. who said he
wished to Duy me- and offered q large num-
her nf and AyehanNa He
already had fourteen wives. and sent them
to call upon me while negotiations were
pending. | had my ieRginQs of at the time.
exposing a pair of black stockings. and
they thought i was part black and part
white. | had to pull down my stockings
and show them my white skin before they
would believe different. Meanwhile ri
alas offer for me was refused. and he saw
US depart with many regrets. much to my
satisfaction.
When the journey was half over was
stricken with fever. and then my real
troubles began. 1t lasted several weeks,
and Mrs. Sheldon never came near me dur
ing that time. As she had taken my ham,
mock had to be carried astride q mans
shoulders. / begged her to let me have the
hammock. but she refused. and TO make
matters worse. took my little tent away to
present TO chief who admired 1t. and
made me sleep under one made of cotton.
OF course. the rain and sun came through
this. and often / slept on the wet grass
outside. preferrins that to the heated place
within. She even took away q bottle of
brandy mad brought along in case of sick
ness and gave lt to one of the village chiefs.
How recovered. God only knows; 1t seems
now like o miracle.
while was sick we stopped sometimes
at village several days, and the women
and men would lie fiat on their stomachs
all day long in front of my tent door and
look at me. It was only done out of Curl
0sity. but il used TO make me terribly
nervous. They would reach in at times
and touch my skin in wonderment, and
then chatter among themselves, and be-
tween them and the fever / thought 1
shonld die.
I'VE had one man with our caravan
named Livingston. He had been with the
great explorer and taken his name, and
always spoke of him in endearing tones.
This black was very kind TO me, and did
me many favors through my sickness. He
always said was god, or else L wouldn't
be white. The little favors always had 10
be done surreptItiOusly, for If Mrs Shell
don caught hIm he would be whipped. 1t
seemed as il she wanted me TO die. and |
believe she would not have been sorry if 1
had. i could not see any motive then. but
i do now. 1t was the book she had in con-
temptation, and she was afraid would tell
the true story.
THE last people we visited were the
Mosb, about five hundred miles from the
coast. Their chief. Mandari, also wished
TO add me TO bis harem. like Msriala, and
offered q large quantity of ivory in pay
ment. lie became very angry when re-
fused. and trouble WAS expected. One
night our head man said Mandari intended
to kidnape me. so Mrs. Sheldon ordered two