Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-11
A MYSTERIOUS CITY.
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TOWN IN THE
HEART OF AFRICA.
Jenne, the Center of the Empire,
Which Has Only Recently Been
Reached by TraveIers-Sur-
vival of Early Egypt.

The most mysterious city in the
world is now accessible TO travellers. Inc
name of the mysterious city Is Jennc-a
word. which in its earlier form OF Greene,
gave rise TO the appellation Of the Guinea
coast. 1t was, in fact, the center OF tiidt
territory from which large quantities OF
gold were received by English traders CEN
turies ago.
The precious metal. on its arrival in Lon
del, was coined into pieces of MONEY
called guineas in commemoration or tie
country from which the supplies had CONF.
As Jennc lay far in the interior IN lIs
midst of what was believed TO be a say
age and barbarous region. aboundins IN
Incredible perils and strange ehclant-
meEts, no European had ever reached II;
When the attempt had been made IL mao
resulted in failure But vague fumots OF
Its fabulous wealth, its vast temples anu
rich palaces, its enormous power ana Inc
unusual character of its people. were IN
circulation and had penetrated every
WHIT re.
cidental 10 a long and difficult journey,
JeEno can now he reached saleiy enough
in about thirty days from 81: LOUIS. a
gal. and the capital of the french coloIy
of the same name. a weeks steamboating
in the Senegal and the traveller arrives at
Kayas. Here he finds a line of railway.
over a hundred miles in length, along
which he is conveyed to Dioubeta. From
this point he has TO proceed on horseback
or on foot across a range of mountains
which form the watershed between the
Senegal and the Niger. until he comes 10
m where the French have erect
ed a fort. Now he embarks upon the Niger
ir a native boat, and after padding day
and night for a fortnight or more down the
g:eat river. will at length see before him
The sight fills him with wonder and
smazement. His first thought is: How
be here? The problem ii presents Is Ger,
tainly unique, and all that can be learned
of JENNIE increases the difficulty or soiv-
ing it.
From out of the midst of a vast plain:
Infinitely fiat, rises a tremendous mass OF
lofty and regular walls, built on nigh.
steep mounds. Above the walls appear
roofs. gable ends. terraces, palms and
other trees: the whole in relief against u
hard. brilliant sky.
which originally was but an outpost OF
Jerne. there is to be seen nothing like it
for hundreds and hundreds OF miles. IN
where in the world, save only in one or two
cities which have been in ruins for over
Z 2.e10 years.
JENNIE has nothing in common with the
ordinary African town, village or COM
munity. Its houses are OF two and three
stories. solidly built of brick, not the huts
of the savage. Its streets are straight and
vide, not mere footpaths. Its boats are not
the clumsy canoes of the tribesmen. but
large and roomy vessels. 1t has its schol-
ara. priests, men of letters, merchants aid
bankers.
II has a history which goes back with
greater clearnesS than our own does Tor
a thousand years. and Is then hardly lost
in the most amazing traditions. 1t was for
centuries the center of a great empire,
ruled over by powerful princes-an empire
OF which nothing now survives but itself,
still vigorous and alive.
From whence. then, came the first
founders of Jenne. and what is the secret
of its singular vitality?
The people OF Jenne are black, hut they
ccnfcrm to the African type in no other
respect. Their Language differs entirely
and fundamentally from that of any of the
neFhboring tribes. Their habits and mall
ners are peculiar 10 themselves. In re-
ligion they are Mohammedans. but shot
through and through their Musselmanism
are the remains of another and far more
Primitive faith.
Their architecture gives at least soma
hint of their origin. Everywhere their
houses are marked by one characteristic
feature, which is not Arabic or Byzantine,
Greek or Roman; it is Egyptian. but it
take; us back far across the ages to the
Egypt of the Pharaoh's. IL Is the pylon,
which is to-day only to be found among the
vast ruins of the Ieng-dead cities of the
Nile. The pylon connects JENNIE with Tie
NEST ancient civilization of the world.
This. then, may perhaps be suggested as
an explanation: Some Egyptian eXpedi-
tion. perhaps when the children of Israel
were. bond slaves of the hard hearted
Pharaoh of the plaques, set out from
Nutia across the Soudan. and settled in the
Niger country. which in respect of its per-.
odical floods is not unlike the land Of
Egypt. Here they built Jenne. and there
their descendants remain to this day.