New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-23
MORE TROUBLE IN AFRICA.
LITTLE RULERS FIGHTING FOR POWER
IN THE WESTERN soUDAN.
CHIEF sAMORY AND HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE
SOFAS SORRY ABRAHAM's PROTEGE
AND HIS RISE TO LEADERSHIP.

| CHIEF sAMoRY AND HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE
SOFAS = SORRY ABRAHAMs PRoTEGE
AND HIS RISE TO LEADERSHIP.
There is more trouble In Africa. II is not up the
Nile this time. nor yet In tho southern highlands
where Dom Paul" and Cecil Rhodes are con-
tending for supremacy. 1t Is at the western end
| OF the Soudan In that lltte-known region centred
about the mysterious city of Tmbuctoo, where
| half dozen Powers are contending for dominance
and where the strongest of the native tribes now
remaining in Africa are to be found. brief news
dispatch a few days ago announced that the
members Of British exploring party had been at
| tackled by Chief Samory at place bearing the
| euphonious name OF Wa, and few Gays later 1t
was reported that they had all been made prisoners
| by tribe bearing the luxurious name of Sofa. 1t
was added that they were in TO danger. but at
| the same time there good deal of talk about
sending a warlike expedition to rescue them and
! to punish the natives who had ventured to inter-
fere with their activities The incident introduces
to renewed notice one OF the most interesting
| tive tribes and decidedly the moS interesting and
| most important native chleftain In all Africa.
The town OF Wa lies near the border OF the
British protectorate OF Ashantee but outside OF 1t
and within what is recognized TO be the French
sphere of influence" II s between two branches
Of the Volta River. and about three hundred and
fifty miles inland from Cape Coast Castle. II lies
within the empire of the great Chief samory. in
what Is known the Mandngo country. This
country lies at the headwaters Of the Niger and
Senegal rivers Just back Of the Republic OF Liberia.
The British once aimed to include II within their
colony Of Sierra Leone and there was considerable
controversy between them ard the French con-
corning IT, but It Is generally regarded as
lying within the French sphere Of influence being
contiguous to Senegamba on the one hand and to
the French Ivory Coast the other.
THE SOFAS RISE TO POWER.
Tho Sofas are one OF the most powerful Of the
Mahometan tribes OF the Western Soudan which
still retain a measure OF independence. They long
desired to negotiate treaties with the British and.
indeed. to come under British suzerainty. but have
finally acquiesced In French relationship instead.
They owe their Importance chiefly to the masterful
leadership OF verltable BLACK Napoleon" This
Is the Amami Emir el Moumenin who retoices In
the personal name Of Samory ben Lathampa, OF
whom will be sad presently. They are
well-drilled and disciplined body of men. including
both infantry and cavalry and until the great ex
tension of French authority in that part Of Africa
they held the whole OF the upper Niger in thradom
by the terror inspired by their arms Down to a
little more than fifty years ago that region con-
sisted OF large number OF petty States. chief
among which was a confederation Of several
known as the Wassoulou.
Then there a native OF Kankan. named
Mahmadou. who first became the principal general
OF the Wassoulou monarch Omar, but afterward
an independent cheftain. He left the service Of
Omar with the intention OF becoming himself the
lord Of all that region. He preached holy war
against the neghborlng States and invaded and
conquered them under the pretext OF converting
them to Mahometansm. An unbroken series Of
victories crowned his efforts and he n
abled to make himself master OF the Wassoulou
confederacy. His only serious setback
ceived at the hands Of Dieri, the King Of the
Bambaras. BY him he defeated and for q
time besieged in his native town of Kankan But
in an attempt TO capture the town by storm Der
was killed and his followers routed This
decisive blow secured Mahmadou's position. and
thenceforward until his death he the undis-
puted sovereign OF all that region.
After his death, however his empire went to
pieces. Not one OF his possessed 1.-THE Of
his talents or able retain his power. The
Wassoulou States first rebelcd and regained their
independence. Then former follower Of MAMMA
dou bearing tho interesting name Of Sorry
Abraham revolted and founded an empire Of his
own out Of four or nve Of tho States In fact no
repeated the tactics Of his former master and
soon bade fair to mako himself lord Of the whole
empire.
SORRY ABRAHAM CHERIsHEs VIPER
But Il was his fortune to DO treated much a.
Omar had been He had in his train a daring,
talented. Quick-witted young man, named Samory.
Tho latter was q slave. His mother had been ono
Of Abrahan's slaves. and had ransomed hcrselt by
giving her son in exchange for her own liberty.
The lad grew up to have almost superhuman ply
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