Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-10-22
rRIBULATiONS OF A WHITE COUPLE
IN THE FRENCH kONGO.


nesses wore procured and they testified to
the existence of the intended bride and
groom; so the paper was drawn up, sign
ed, and left at the post to be sent to the
governor.
The wedding party returned and waited.
A little over six weeks passed, when notice
arrived that the license could not be grant
ed, inasmuch as the birth certificates of the
contracting parties and the consent OF
their parents would be necessary. In case
their parents were dead their marriage and
death certificates would be required. There
was nothing to do but to write homo and
wait again. Tho documents which the OK.
pectant bridegroom required arrived after
about four months, but those OF the bride
did not come until ten months after the
first application was made for the license,
her father living in the wilds Of western
Nebraska 70 miles from anywhere.
After all the papers we're at hand the
commandment visited tho bridegroom and
requested him to go to his Office to arrange
everything, so that after delay OF two
weeks tho ceremony might be performed.
These two weeks would be needed to give
every one living in the neighborhood a
chance to digest the news Of the approach.
ing marriage, and in case any one knew OF
any imrediment In the way to enable him
to inform the government. For convent
cnce a paper was nailed up at the post an
nouncing the facts. Another was posted
at the house of the couple to be married, II
being the only other public place In that
vicinity Since the natives could not read
the paper had to DO explained every time
one of them saw It,
At last the wedding day dawned, Sat
urday being chosen for the occasion. Ev-
erything was in readiness the day before,
so that there could be an early start on
this eventual day The canoe, about 30 feet
long and feet broad. had been fixed up
with an awning from sailcloth, easy chairs
being placed for the wedding party Of four
bride, groom, bridesmaid and an init
mate friend who acted as best man. The ma
tives, ii in number, who padded the canoe
were seated on planks fastened across the
canoe
About o'clock, an hour before sunrise,
the canoe left tho station The groom had
taken it upon himself to steer. The voyage
was quiet and peaceful until some one
shouted "N'Phuboo. Every one looked,
but the hippopotamus had already disap'
pcnred, to rise again at distance. The
water was without ripple, and the trees
were mrrorcd In its depths. The banks on
both sides seemed adorned for n feast, SC
many beautiful Colors were to be seen IN
the trees. Everywhere the cries Of birds
and monkeys were to be heard, the rising
sun disturbing the slecpers Often the
howl Of the hyena made discord in these
melodies After travelling about nine miles
place called Pilla N'Clmbia Thirsty
Stcamcr) was reached. Here the river
widens into a lake three miles across. On
this morning the water was like glass, al.
though its waves had often swamped
canoes An hours strong pull across this
lake, and the river narrowed again Here
they say monkeys used to cross, forming
bridge by hanging to each others tails.
The tide going down strongly soon
brought our wedding party to Its desti-
nation, q little after a. III. A German
merchant had invited them to his house
and also prepared to spread the wedding
breakfast He, being the Oldest among the
Europeans, claimed the right to give away
the bride. After they had rested little
and were Joined by the necessary witnesses,
they all proceeded to the French post, fol
lowed by crowd Of Africans who wanted
to SEQ this strange performance At the
post everything WAS unusually nice. One
could see that they had been very busy
preparing to do justice to this grand occa-
sion. Even a new carpet graced the floor.
Monsieur III, commandant received the
bridal marty at the door and took them to
their different seats. and chairs were piaoed
for the counle to he married at the foot of
tho t.Ilc while the reprcsentatiye of
France tool, the head The witnesses and
others were seated Mt the sides
Aftar al, were seated mopsieur proceeded
with the ceremony He read very ranidlv.
bnt a. waa over half an hour before he
came ~ th, ,,omantons question and ask.
or, the bride and yrnom To sey"oui. +" They
said "oui " and then he asked them TO
sign n large document After the sigma
tres NJ tho ,y,tncssea followed congratn.
io,,ons and all ,ras oysr nnti, sentad
orourI tho +,hIa ot tho Carmon factory
Tow white nsonl.. nartook NJ this break fast
,yhich nonId not ho snrnnssod In tronicai
afrino ahon, ~ -, tha canos was raadv
.,J OH e.. ,,,h;t, noon,o come to tho ~ ver
zach 20 COO the ra,,,ly n,arr,ed coun,e Of
IT, hr;das,a;d snd ,.,st man raturnall
,,,;th .ha,u Thro,1,no 1p,a .hne. ana rio,
.,.nr 40 oo,,1o n,os vow, tho or,1sr NJ tho
d.y The r,t,rn yovo1a at frat was AZ
1,ooeont os tha ,nor,,;na ionrnav on,v tho
a,... ,',aa Iitt,o I'D, .rd torrodo ,vas
coming up AFTER passing inc plg iake ehe
ciouas began 10 LOOK oarkel, 'ne neh1nlhg
~ hn,l . pa wa v wss so ronoh Soon the
uoor,n, Of tho vivid and rnsh,no NJ the
COMING rain told Of danger