The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-11-27

An Explorers Picture Of Life in
the Dark Continent.
He Found one Chleftaln Who
Was a True Gentleman.

on the Congo after crossing Africa IN
The interests Of this magazine. The
article 10 entitled octave in Hid
Africa, and contains graphic desorip-
lions Of life in the Dark Continent
Hero ia one:
July 81. Yesterday, on arriving at
Kiuuuka's the chief was absent. 80 !
made camp outside the village. ]
.hen sent messenger 10 Kisuuka in-
forming him Of my arrival. He sent
word that he was at a small village Of
his few miles of and asked mo to
come IN the morning and see him
there. However, at early morning to-
day a messenger came to my camp
from him, saying that during the
night Kisunka had reflected that it
would DO more hospitable 10 come
to see me, as was stranger.
In the forenoon the old fellow
arrived at his village, and informed
me by messenger that he would take
rest, and then come TO see me. Isent
back a suitable message, stating that
1 was precluded from visiting him by
a bad foot In the afternoon Kisun-
ka appeared-n handsome African,
seventy years old, should say, tall,
and as trinity built as a greyhound, Of
very dark hue looks black against the
other natives. He was accompanied
by about fifty OF his young warriors,
fine, strupping fellows, healthy aud
slick, armed with bows and arrows
and spears aud a few guns. Many
came iuto my bona, but the chief or
dered the remainder to stay outside.
But as soon as the old fellow was
seated, those outside could not re-
press their curiosity to see aud hear
all that WAS going on inside. The
chief told me his entire belongings
were mine during my stay He was
uneasy, owing to the impotuosity OF
his followers, and left early so as to
restore peace aud quiet. During the
whole day tue camp has been crowded
With uative men and women and chill
dren trading their corn md mtara
and manioc, hairpius, copper orna-
ments, etc, for beads and cloth.
There has been no squubbling, nothing
to mar the general good feeling. Il
is absolutely impossible to do any
literary work from the huhbub con
stantly maintained from morn tc
night. you close the tent the heat
becomes iusufferable; as soon as you
open it solid mass of Africans stoI
the current of the air. Old and young
are in constant boi,terous converse
tion, discussing and arguing abou
you and your property and those MOI
so engaged are shouting at the top o.
their voices, telling their friends no
to make such a din. 1t is difficult Il
produce any sort of camera for thu
first time without creating a stampede
The nozzle holding the lens is Away
considered some sort of gun. al
ways show them some photographs be
forehand, and try to convince them o
the purpose of the camera, and l gen
orally succeed when stay over a dH,
in village.
August IL visited old Kisunka to
day. He has a fine, large village Q
about three hundred huts and hos
of small granaries. When he cam
to see me yesterday, told him / hat
heard of white man being at Mlel
Mango, and / was anxious to send
message to him. Immediately on re
turning to his village, he sent me tw
fine, strapping fellows, to whom
paid fee of Two yards Of blue clot
each, gave them the letter, and o
they started ut a dog trot 1t is
= very busy village; the blacksmith
bellows consist of two bags of sof
!. ened buckskin, which his assistar
grosps, one with each hand, and worl
i them. They are both tied to a nozz
. of wood or clay tubing pointing to
charcoal fire. The blacksmith b
very primitive tools AN anvil of ha
stone, hammer OF iron-but then
turns out excellent work. la
/. never seen the process of smeltin