Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-06-02
How Savages Are Influenced by Fire
rlss 4

IF Il Brock or n Pain with a ready
wit were either to turn explorer, he
would be most successful i'll openin.
up new countries. Let his always be
equipped with fireworks, and all Africa
at present uncXplored would be at his
feet
Such was the "cmark made to me by
ii prominent African explorer and hun
ter with whom | had some cOnycrS:.
ton the other day
1T is my firm opinion" he went on,
that fireworks, the electric light, or
the magic lantern. have done more to.
ward creating Il friendly feeling among
natlV" tribes than any amount of cold
iron Why. remember when | was
out with Stanley that the chief of the
expedition or one of his followers had
only 10 blow whistle and the hostile
lambuya. who surrounded us by the
hundreds. at once fled in fear. They
knew the firing of the gun, and its
deadly effect. but the novelty of the
whistle. coming from the mouth of il
man. produced an Instantaneous effect
upon them. That same feeling is seen
Ill other natives when they witness Il
magic lantern entertainment or a fire
works display. In these cases, how
ever. the feeling of fear is checked by
the dcliSht they ut the same time cX.
pcrirncc.'
"liavc YOU ever used tircworkSr"
Several times" WAS the reply Il
once made my way through Il very
hostile part of Central Africa chiefly
by reason of the fireworks display
was able To give. In one case Il ma
tive tribe wanted me to remain wi II
tln, tJ,,,i,.
to let me go. and only did SO on my
promising. us their god. to aid the
tribe in $ conflict with the warriors
of another. For two months made
my way without tirin. shot in self
defense De BraZzl-thr rldcr-madc
his famous progress up the middle
oGowr River solely through his taking
the prrcaution 10 carry with him Il
large supply of fireworks. The Pa.
houin tribe to whom the country be
longCl. were IL very fierce and warike
people. But De BrlZza was diplomat
list. When h" reached the borders of
the PIlhOuin country he sent word to
tn" king that h" had som" presents to
give To him. \ large crowd came lo
meet the explorer. who gave them Il
number of prrSCn : To the chief of the
tribe. and then asked them to retire
Il few yards.
DE Rrazza and his men began their
tircwnrk display. ANA completely faS
cinatrI the natives. The rockets
caused them to shrek in as oni>hmcnt
and many of them fled to escape the
fire which they feared would fa upon
them. Th" Roman candles and III,
wheels put the finishing touch lo the
performance. AT cr that De Br,ZZa
had no trouble in exploring the coun.
try he had set mis- heart upon seeing
In my own case | shall never forget
the terror which filled the minds of
some Nasal when cnrr threw a
cracker in their midst. AS the fire
work jumped about here and there.
the natives made frantic attempts to
escape it. and came up to me. AMI With
rhtir faces on the ground, begged tha'
the evil spirit should be cXorciSri"
And what is the effect of the magic
lantcrn!'
simply marvellous Several of the
mission stations from Zanzibar inland
now possess lanterns. and exec lent
use is made of them. DR.. Livingstone
W:LS one of the first to introducr the
lantern. and once remember his
speaking of the excellent effect its use
lEtl I'IWluttu. 'Jllt' curious lnlllS |
often noted You will find the natives
much more ready to 60 into ecS a>ir>
of delight ut the picture of some street
scene in New York. London or Paris.
than at the views of any beauties of
nature. They scream with drligh at
the sight of colorcI pictures;
DO you find much use for musical
Instruments in your work of rXplorl-
tom | asked.
"A hand organ is almost ;lS gouh as
the lantern aS Il means of making
friends with the natives. | remember
once seeing King NJ ,cSa grinding out
of Il barrel organ the tunes of twenty
years ago. He turned the handle
somewhat rrratically, and the tunes
came ont in spurts and guShrS. His
delight. and the delight of his wives.
was Il fine thing to watch. 4 con
certina Lncc went a long way toward
allowing a party. of which was one.
to 90 inland on one occasion. One of
our men could play thc 'Ilallrluiah
Chorus with great gllSto. and we fro
Quen ly arranged Il dance of natives
to the music of the stirring chorus
Prom what | have told you. think
You will see that there are other
means of opening UP hitherto unrX-
porcd regions than by the use of the
gun. Pierre de BraZza always prid"d
himself ON his having penetrated
Africa without being competed to fire
Il shot in self defense"