Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-01-22
NANAFRICAN SWAMP


Of Great Britain and France, which ex-
tend in broken line along the west
African coast, from the mouth OF the
Gambia to the Niger, lies wild and
little known region of swamp and for
est, where bpt few white men have set
their feet, inhabited by many negro
races, differing widely i'll physique and
language from one another. For the last
three years strange stories have been
brought down TO the seaboard about the
doings of an Arab chief called Samory.
The latter, at the head of a large fol-
lowing OF desperate men, outcasts from
many tribes, Mandingoes, Jalufs, Sofas,
Senegalis and deserters from both Brit
ish and French native troops has made
his name terror throughout the him
terland, " sacking villages and carrying
away the inhabitants into the far Su-
dan.
During 1898 he ralded the eastern
portion Of Senegal, and the French lost
q number of white officers In the hard
fighting necessary TO drive him out
More than once, too, they were badly
beaten, for the assailants were armed
with high class rifles, struggled through
from the coast i'll spite of certain clauses
in the treaty Of Brussels. In the latter
part Of 1898 this Arab leader induced
the Sofas warlile tribe dwelling In
the debatable land between the small
British colony of Sierra Leone and the
French territory of Senegal, to take up
arms against the Europeans, and quite
unknown to each other British and a
French expedition marched from differ
ent points 10 attack him.
One afternoon at the end Of December
in that year a small British force, COM
prisiug detachments of black Moham-
medau Haussas of the frontier constabu-
larry and negroes Of the west Indian regi-
ment from Sierra Leone, stumbled
through the dense forests of the Kongo
country The day had been intensely
hot, for this is the dry season in west
Africa. The tired troops dragged them
selves painfully along, with company
Of Rrooboy bearers ahead, slashing
pathway for them through almost i'm
pCuetrablC thiCkets. AT sunset they
reached a small, clear space, surround
ing a deserted village, and there, at the
word Of command, the wornout men
were glad to pile their arms and prepare
TO camp.
A rough brcastwork of brushwood
was soon arranged in hollow square,
and throwing themselves down on the
moist earth, amid the crimson shoots OF
trailing plants and flowers of many
hues, the soldiers spread their simple
meal, the tall Haussas in their crimson
foz and dark rife uniform separating
themselves from the men Of the west
Indian regiment, for the latter profess
debased form Of Christianity mixed
with black practices, and the true Mus
sulman will not, if he can help it, eat
with the intidel.
The young west Indian lieutenant on
guard leaned against the great buttress
shaped roots Of a cottonwood, and as he
moppcd the pcrspiration from his brow
and fought the bloodthirsty mosquitoes
with both hands, said wicked things
about the fate that led him into this
disthrcssful country. He was an Irish
man, and when he abused things in gen
eral as frontier officers occasionally do,
the powerful oloquence of the Celtic
tongue relieved his feelings best. From
timo to time he looked out into the
darEuCss, but there was little to be seen
the shadow Of the trees closed round
the camp like a wall, and no sount
other than the usual night voices of the
African forest broke the stiffness. From
a hidden creek came the laundering ant
splGshing Cf an alligator; at times thu
branches Of the cottonwoods ratified al
a monkey swung himself from bough Il
Dough, or the rustling of grasses marked
the passage Of huge snake.
The white man at last found the spell
Of the forest, which at times will caus
panic even among the natives, though
no one knows why, creeping over him
His hands trcmbled as he settled tn
chin straps Of his pith helmet "Pah
how this night watching gets on one
nerves, " he said; cit shows what tn
climate will bring man to. Even tn
drip, drip of the water there is enoug
to drive me mad Hellop' He spran
back, with hand on his revolver butt
as dark figure rose up out Of the bushe
beside him.
Sergeant Amun Sab" said Ia
Haussa, saluting; think there be Sof
man in the bush; monkey frightene
live for go away, leopard live for 6
away too.
The lieutenant listened, while tn
veins frightened across his forehead
and something seemed to click beneat
his right ear, and sure enough rustlin
amid the trees announced the passage {
troop Of monkeys, while the Ion
howl Of leopard drifted down Il
night breeze.
A few moments later all doubt val
ished, for swapping of twigs al
swishing of leaves told that large boo
of men was advancing through Il
forest.
At the report of the lieutenant's r
volver the camp awoke, and for fe
moments, while the bugles rang out Il
alarm, there was a scene of wild conf
.;op Mon still half asleep stumble