The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-09
LIBERATED SLAVES IN AFRICA.
A PhiIanthropic Scheme for Their Bene
(From the New York Sun. }

(From the New York Sum-
A little paper made it's appearance in
this city in January and it already has
quite large circulation. though it is
doubtful If more than three or four people
in this country can read 1T. 1t is called
Kamba dia NICOLA, and though it's col
umns are a sealed book to us, they are
full of interest and meaning to thousands
of people in Africa. In fact, this Ameri-
can product is intended strictly for Afri-
can consumption. Published on Fifth
avenue, the entire edition crosses the sea
to Angola, south Of the Congo, where
there are many thousands Of people who
speak the Kimbundu Language and are
learning to read it. This is the first
periodical in that language, and one of
its peculiarities is that it's editor, sole
contributor and office boy are combined
in one gentleman. He'll Chatelain.
Among all the MEN who are devoting
their lives to Africa, He'll Chatelain holds
unique position. He is not yet 81 years
old, he is a cripple, he has been 5edIidden
third of his life, he is poor. and never in
ASSASN ASNAoAi, Ah0 you AZ 40 0Oo0tioA IL
any man who has worked for Africa
single handed as he has done, is so well
known as he among the Africans Of all
nations. The African governments, the
missionary and philanthropie societies,
the geographers, ethnologists, philologists
and the folk lore students of all countries
know him because he has done work of
the highest quality that interests them
ALL
couple Of years ago the Sun gave
about half page to review of his book,
Folk Tales of Angola In recent
German pathological work the learned
author says that he follows the method Of
the native languages have led him to the
discovery Of tribal relationships hitherto
unsupported and of much interest to
ethnologists. Learned societies in various
countries have printed much of his folk
lore material. his linguistic notes, his
collections of native yocabularies, his
bundukim and comparative grammars
and missionary societies are printing and
distributing in Africa by the thousands
his translations of some of the gospels.
Undoubtedly his unusual linguistic at
talnments have greatly helped to call
wide attention to his work. Students of
Africa may consult his writings in Eng
lish, German, French and Portuguese, all
written by himself, and he has recently
returned tolthis country with unpublished
material for several volumes.
Love OF Africa and her peoples is with
He'll Chatelain a consuming passion. He
has lived for Africa and much of the time
! in Africa for the past 10 years, and his
complete absorption in his life mission
| has helped him to do far more than one
| mans work with far less than an average
mans physical strength. A native of
Switzerland, ne is citizen of this coun-
try, and heihas came back home now in
the interest of scheme he has devised
for philanthropio work in Africa that Is
| regarded by many prominent men in this
city as wholly practicable and desirable
object. The details of his plan will soon
be published, and the fact that he has in
terested some of the best known men in
the country in his proposed work is prob
ably due as much to their confidence in
the man as to their approval of his sohem-
For everybody who knows him can testi-
fly. that every dollar he has had for IL
years has gone into his work, save that
required to give him the barest subsis-
tence.
In brief, Mr.. Chatelain' scheme is to
| organize society with bran ches all over
this country and Canada, whose main
purpose shall be to found settlements of
liberated slaves who now mum Der many
| thousands in Africa; this work to be car
ried OH in accordance with the benefcent
provisions of the act adopted by the
Brussels congress. Concessions of land
| will be obtained from various African
governments In whose territory these
slaves are numerous. The intention is to
settle the freed slaves on these lands, pro-
vide them at first with needful tools and
seeds, instruct them in improved methods
of agriculture, teach them gradually to
read and write, keep them from contact
| with witch dootoring and other heathsn
practices. and liquor. and make the
| colonies partly self-supporting after the
first year and wholly SO in few years.
His acquaintance with the practical prob
lens to be met has enabled Mr.. Chatelain
to work out his plans with much min
| uteness of detail. Nothing more than an
inkling OF the project can be given I'M
til the business details are further ad-
yanced, when description of the whole
scheme will be put into type and widely
distributed.
treasurer for the fund has been ap-
pointed and the names of the officers and
executive committee will soon be an
nounced. They are gentlemen whose
names are'known throughout the country,
and they will form the central authority
assisted by subsidiary committees in other
states.