Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1896-05-01
NEGRO CITY IN AFRICA,
Rider Haggard's Fictions Riyaled by Re-
ports of Recent Explorer.

ports of u Recent Explorer.
The following marvellous story istold
by Rev. Josiah Strong, whose own char
acter, together with the fact that no
one has challenged the authenticity OF
the story, makes credible what would
otherwise inspire doubt, The story is
told to illustrate the fitness Of the Chris
tian negro to evangelize Africa. 1t IS
an account of visit to an African city
on the Kassai, tributary of the Congo,
whose king had threatened with instant
death any visitor to his capital or any
guide who should conduct one thither.
So for nine years all attempts to reach
it had been futile. When Mr.. Shepherd
came, speaking the kings own Ian
guage and being of his own color, King
Laguba received him kindly and showed
him every attention. This is what Mr..
Shepherd saw
They attended him to the city, and he
found what he had not seen before in
Africa, fenced city, with broad, clean
streets, in which hundreds of happy
children were at play, with marbles or
at leapfrog or trundling their hoops.
He found city laid out like checker
board, the squares being filed with
houses. Every street and every house
was named. The houses were well
built, commodious and furnished with
carved furniture and xquisitely-woven
mats. He was conducted to one that
had been assigned to him and found it
well provisioned. There he received
the neighbors for three days, and on the
fourth he was summoned to give at
tendance upon the king, and the king
sent two of his sons and thousand
children to escort him to his presence
He walked with them down broad,
beautiful avenue into the great central
square of the city. Blanket cloth had
been spread out in great circle of per.
haps hundred feet in diameter, and
within this the ground had been GOV.
cred with leopard skins. On these
skins, sitting in a hollow square, were
the 700 wives Of the king and his aged
sister, while thousands stood outside
around the circle. AS the king was
borne in by his 16 carriers the air was
rent by the shouts of the people, and
when the king was seated the people
seated themselves upon the ground
TherTt two princes came forward, ant
taxing MT. Shepherd by the arm con.
Quoted him into the presence of the
king.
The king was gorgeously dressed, ano
wore crown. He took from his belt {
knife which he said had belonged tt
seven Lokugas, and this he presented tt
the young man as token Of confidence
The king said to him: "If you or YOU
people are hungry, do not fail to let mt
know, and whatever you want of me o.
: of my people you shall have" He ther
presented the missionary TO his ageC
sister, and the ceremony was at an end
The prince conducted him about tn,
city, and as he saw their vast markets
full of busy life, well supplied will
fruits and vegetables and manufac
tured articles, he felt himself to b.
! again in the midst of civilization. HI
found there people with laws whicl
were strictly enforced, with courts o
! justice and with prisons. Any membe
\ of that tribe who is guilty of bigam,
+, suffers death. Any man who is guilt,
t of drunkenness or of gambling or o
theft or of wife-beating is severely pun
ished. Every third day with them is
, Sabbath, and they carefully observe il
= Chicago Post.