Daily Kennebec journal., 1893-12-30
SAVAGERY IN AFRICA
ExpeRieNce o. ONE or UNCLE SANS
REPRESENTATIVES

m0I4U11IO
rib. Mstii.tfs. u Desd sedies-is-s-
IL. with Awfal R<snltA
NJ norsey Nchun, United States com
merrial agent n; Bona, Congo Free stare
has made a thrilling report 70 the stale W
partment on the subject of the African
slavr trade. in which be gives details 81
.annibaaism and other acts Of barbarisn-
yyh.r gives his report special interest IN
his vicinity is that the author is a lifelong
resident OF this city. He Is the only repre-
sentative OF this government iu that part
"a the OZARK continent" He was sent
there with q view Of advancing the com
mercial interests Of the United States ana
incidentally TO investigate the slave trade.
In order to gain y clear insight into the
whole matter Mr.. Mohun attached himself
ID the expeSit nn which was sent out by the
Congo government under command OF NJ.
Cbaitin. This expedition, both in point oil
strength and from the results which il &C
complished, was one of the most important
ever sent agains, the Arabs and practically
gave the slave trade in the Congo country
its deathblow 1t penetrated the great
Lomami river region, the stronghold of the
slave traders, and after considerable heavy
fighting and in the face Of great mortality
from smallpox and fever, succeeded in
breaking up several Of the most noted
hands. whose operations had terrorized the
entire locality.
The expesiition started from Basoko, on
the Congo river, in the Bruxelles, a govern
ment steamer, and eventually reached
Stanley falls The United States officer
did not Join it until after NJ. Chaltin, who
had gone into the backlying country. He
caught the steamer ON its next trip down
to Basoko, and later joined Commandant
Chaltin. He found that the officer had
been most successful, defeating the Arabs
in an open fight and completely destroying
the village Of Tehari, which consisted of
200 houses From that point the eNpedi-
ton sailed for Benakamba, where it was
reorganized and set out for Riba Riba $50
strong. Then began the stirring and ex-
citing adventures which lasted until the
object of the expedition had been accom-
plished. Evidences of inhuman cruelty on
| the part of the slave traders were encoun-
tered.
When the town of Ikamba was reached a
grewsome sight greeted the expedition
| The chief of that district, being an ally of
the Arabs, had placed directly across the
| road CHASTITY barricade of l6 newly sever
| ed heads, The natives had fled, however,
and the town was deserted save for these
rrisly warnings. Without needing this
| fearful sight the expedition pushed on, and
| ON March 30 was stopped by an impossible
| stream Scouts were sent out TO find a
| ford, and soon returned with the news that
a large body of Arabs was preparing to
cross the river at a point not far away.
| These were the first slave dealers who had
| been encountered, and the force was imme-
diately placed in position for an attack.
The Arabs had not discovered the pres
| ence of the expedition, and the first warn
| ing they had was shell from the field
| piece which dropped into their camp.
| After several hours Of hot fighting across
| the river the Arabs Withdrew, and upon
| crossing over the blood which spattered the
| ground and bushes showed the victers that
| some deadly work had been done. Only
| one dead Arab was found. as it is the Gus
| tom of this people, Mr.. Mohun says, to re
| move their dead if possible. After the
battle $50 men succeeded in crossing the
| river and were ordered to push on to Riba
| Riba, as it was desired to reach that town
before the retreating forces of the Arabs
| could give warning of the approach OF the
| expedition.
| This detachment Mr.. MOhun accompa.
| MED, but ou reaching the town they found
| the place deserted. The only thing they
| did find was another bit of Arab pleasantly
| in the shape of two right hands of white
| men nailed TO the flagstaff in front Of the
| chiefs house MIR. Mohun expressed the
belief that they were those of Messrs.
| Michaels and Noblesse, who were murder
| ed there the week before. 1t is the inten-
| tion of NJ. Chaltin to destroy these nests,
| and the detachment marched away in the
| light of the flames which asceuded from
| the village and returned to the main force.
| Smallpox had made its appearance among
| the men, and on the next day all of the sick
| were sent back to Benekamba under guard.
| The expedition followed a few days later
| and reached the steamer on May 5, taxing,
| three DAYS TO make the home journey, which
| had consumed nine days in going. The
scenes on the road going back, according
| to Mr.. Mohun's descriptions, were appall-
| ing The dead from the sick column lined
the way, and occasionally a corpse would
| be tumbled over AS it lay concealed in the
| high grass. So great was the mortality that
| upon reaching Benekamba it was found
that l04 persons had died in less than two
| weeks.
| Inc Ddttic WHICH tuutu tuc tApeulliOB
was fought at Stanley falls. The soldiers
| were in two detachments under cover of the
| fire from the cannon on the steamer. One
detachment carried the factory at the point
of the bayonet, and for awhile there was
hot work. The retreating Arabs were pur-
sued to the village, which, the soldiers took.
The other detachment, on the right bank
of the river, had gallantly captured another
town, killing the chief and 75 Of his men.
The defeat and rout Of the Arabs was com
plete, and the slaughter from the rifles of
| the soldiers was fearful. After this disas
trous defeat many OF the Arabs slaves, sol
diers, women and other retainers gave
themselves up. In all about 100 Of these
surrendered to the expedition.
| There being no further danger from the
| Arabs after such a complete rout, the ex-
| pedition left Stanley falls and went to Ro-
| ME, another Arab town, which they found
had been already captured by small force
under the command of Mr.. Five the in
spector of the Congo state, and an officer.
Here Mr.. Mohun saw some sights which
| were revolving in the extreme, SURPRISING
in savagery anything that he had imagined.
| Washington Star.