The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-05

What It VIII Cost In Fares to Travel Far
Up the Great River.

"EV
Who shall say thai within the next i've years
we shall not hear OF personally conducted"
tourist parties travelling 1900 miles up the
Congo to the heart of African The Congo
State has Just added to its feet of steamers
upon the upper river six vessels acquired from
the Belgian Society Of the Upper Congo, and 1t
has organized a passenger service and pub
l,shed the list of fares to many different
points from Stanley Pool to the head of naviga-
tion on the main river and the more important
tributaries.
Perhaps we foreigners will be disposed to
grumble because there is such a remarkable
discrimination in favor OF the black native in
the matter OF fares. In almost every case he
will pay exactly one-Quarter Of the sum which
white passengers will be required to pay. But
then the whites are supposed to have a good
deal more than four times as much money as
the blacks, and undoubtedly the accommodate
tions provided for the white passengers will be
four times as desirable as those for the blacks.
The rates are exclusive OF meals. and we do not
know yet what will be charged for meals on
the Congo passenger steamers.
1t is nineteen years since Mr.. Stanley pad
died down the Congo. his rate Of progress nc
CELEBRATED now and then by the natives who
chased him. yelling Meat" AS the passen-
ger steps on the steamboat at Leopoldville. Stan
10y II Ools ~ ~ v AAS ohAAo wv N"hN fFNNAA
ley revealed, it will not usually occur TO him
that times have changed in the past two de-
cades. for as he smokes his pipe and takes his
ease, reading Stanley's narrative when the
rather uniform river bank 5 become 100 monot-
onous. he will reflect that he Is having, a very
good time under the awning, with the breezes
tempering the tropical heat, Just where stan
ley was enduring more ~discomforts aud ankle
ty than fall to the lot OF many men.
Let us see. Does the tourist wish to 60 to
the densely peopled district of Bo.obo. where
It is fashionable for the ladies to- wear around
half supported by one hand TO- prevent them
from CALLING the shouldersI The ladies who
wear these extraordinary ornaments live about
two days journey UP the river. and II will cost
the white man the small sum of $40 to bring
not the sight is worth the money. 1t cost Stan
Icy and his early successors q great many times
siH 70 {. sec safe ehs to p say that al the trip from Leopold,
willie 70 New A1 MT r. worth On sh .be i1 mane ey t an SIS 9s-
with the natives. Years later he told Cart.
Coauiihat one day to pack up his things and be
CCooauiihat had no idea of the duty that would
s ss rsa%iFiH landed 81 nam among * the he BSns aioS that iii he
was to found the station there that has since
become New Antwerp; II Is nov the finest
ing to see it's fine brick, buildings. including
the first brick structure that was Lut up on the
iTpper Congo. its big plantations, It's schools
whrre boys and young men are trained to he
artisnns and soldiers. and the Bangnlo people,
amonv the finest in Africa, who are the best
soldiers and wOrkmen In the service OF the
IL will come a little higher to see the people
of ITpoto and Bumba, who have artlilcially
made themselves about as ugly as human be-
ings can we'll be. II Will cost $40 to get within
view OF their hideous tattooings, which leave
ali the flesh OF their faces IN ridges and FUR,
Tows' The sight is dear at any price, They live
inst between tho two widest ex panslons OF the
Cnnpo. where the river Is cut up into small
channels by dozens Of islands. In some places
white men on the banks were utterly obllVious
Of the passing Of S~tanley's E"in relief exre-
THE highest fare on the list OF rates Is 500 10
stanley Falls, over 900 miles distant from Leo
poIdyiile. THE Is certainly not very expensive
Travelling through the wilderness or Africa,
stanley Falls Is about half way, across Africa;
| and most Of the explorers who have travelled
clear across the col tinent have spent more
money than IL would cost 10 charter sew
arai sDecial trims to run from New York 20
san Francisco, The sum of 500 Tor passage
will take the traveller far up some Of the Congo
for instance. where the women ana children
clambered up ropes To refuHes IN the prhhches
~ trees when they saw Grenfell,s llltle steamer
coming; or 10 Lusambo, one OF the most distant
stations OF the State, far south OF the congo;
Coming down stream. when the current helps
instead of impedes the steamer, AL rates are
reduced about one-half; The return rate IRON
Stanley Falls O LeopOldvtlle will be e"., al
most exactly the same distance ana rare as be-
tween New York and Chicago OF course most
OF the passenger traffic VIII DO contributed by
The many white men in the seryice Of the state,
the Trading companies. and the missionary so.
~cieties, and the largest source OF revenue viii
~ derived from the freiRhtage on supplies
taken 10 the stations and on the exports OF rub
Der aud iyoTS.