The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-15
CONGO HORSES AND C4T7L..
Stock Raising In ~ Land Where It WAS
Though the Experiment Would Fall.

Stock Raising In n Land Where It WA
Thought the Experiment WOuld Fall.
When the idea Of raising stock on the Congo
was preached several years ago most people
believed tho experiment would fail. The OK
pertinent was made. however. and it bids fair
TO Le very successful. 1t is one OF the most
interesting enterprises on the Congo and Is
managed by the Company Of Congo Products.
Three years ago the company decided to try
to raise cattle and horses. They selected for
their experiment tho large Island ~ MateOa.
about ''!, miles up The riysTr. They ir nd
Angola to the island. and tho lower Congo
stations have teen supplied ever since with a
great deal al, fresh meat from Aatsi;n; IN"
The supplies OF ir-sh meat hnNs oeen u
great boon to white men along the river.
tireIy" dependent for t,eir iood UPON can.
ned goods. which they brought from Europe.
!rn reason why there is now mncn less NOR.
tally. among them is because they are lifih9
food, whi;h comes 10 them fresh from the
Matebn, have been taken m the river as lar as
LeDpoidyilIe. though cntt,r ra'7'n. IN inc
u! IH%s r4ss" Il s,,'. IN Of r. h 'o!HsF iraaisinr on tn.
Cong" Is still more Interesting. The Coippsny
o. on2o PRODUCTS began tileIr nro'e o. horses
with two stations nnd eishl mares Of Spanish
stock imported. from the, canary Islands. 4
few animals OF miAeh hmerlrnn ana AraD
animals Were intended for saddle horses. 1t
is hoped TO use cattls ms draught animals. and
tho company Intends tha horses IL Is raising
chiefly Tor riding purposes,
Some of thu horsns droored anc dlen under
the changed climatic conditions: nai ne conl,
many j.. On the whole, very we'll satisfied with
horses take kindly To the Iasturaie i%.liorieii
by the island. The grhss |, nnuTishing. and
II supplemented by u small daily la'lon OF
corn meal; The grass stem IL very tough ana
tie snim4ls content Themselves with nippinG
Every, morning. ms soon ms the dew is of the
grass, the horses are turned out Of their yards
ind are. ~ liberty to range over n pasture
about eight square miles 10 extent. Iiry are
guarded ny. black boys. who 90 not ,pernllt
them TO so down to the river TO qneneh their
thirst on account OF the croeodlies; tnst IKE
approaching the stream. Whsn y crocodile
sees Q horse at the river brink u az once swims
toward him under the water. KNOCKS him over.
u II can. with u blow OF It's tail. and drags MN
below the surface. The horses can drink
without danger only In the ponds. which are
quite numerous all over the island.
About noon the boys round M the animals
for the midday rest in the shaded yards. This
is the time when the daily ration Of corn Is
served, and, moreover. at tins, hour the suns
rays beat down 20 severely thar The animals
would be jeoparded were they lett IN the open.
They are. therefore. gathered together In tho
shade. Two hours later they are permitted
to range over the pastures again. and do not
return to The yards until evening.
The natives consular the horses as fetiches
OF great potency. and they never approach
them without the greatest caution. being par
t~iculsrly afraid Of their heels and teeth There
ere now about 500 horses II the Drove; and bS;;
lsfs sIst ! - G5SIiHsflgts p pssss. r issssSSisssss w ~
Eke CAtSo GovdSHHSAt and Sx1l6&SGs