The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-30
KING LUKINGAS COUNTRY.
The Simple Story Of the Wife of Col
Orcd Virginia Missionary 10 Africa.

WARM SPRINGS. VA, July 2s.-Spe-
cial-AsHymn recital in Baluka dialect
and a talk given here by the wife OF
William Shepherd. the colored mission
airy and African explorer. drew largo
audience I'm the parlors Of the hotel
I'm 1891 AIr. Lapsley son OF Judge Laps
ley OF Alabama. and william Shepherd
We're sent ont 10 Africa as missionaries
hv the Southern Presbyterian Chruch.
Alr Tansley died with African fever two
years after going out. but william Shep-
herd has not only established mission
station church. and school Of one hum
dred and fifty members I'm Luebo the dis
trict Of The Balubas, but has penetrated
into tho country and the Bakubas. PARK
OF Africa hitherto unknown 10 foreign
ers and i7 considered 90 have MADE such
valuable contributions 90 othnologny ana
geography that he has been made n rei-
low of tho Royal Geographical Society"
has been presented at court and has been
decorated by Queen Victoria herself.
lie Is the son OF "Aunt Fanny the
woman who has charge Of the baths here
Was horn near here and was at one time
n waiter az the Warm Springs.
Mrs. Shepherd told with great simpli-
city the story OF her husbands discovery
of King INk.ngas Country as inc
country az the Bakubas is commonly
entrance into this district and Shepherd 8
only weapon Of defence when he was
brought before King Lukinga was three
of four words " the Bakuba dialect which
ne had learned from the B9kIbas when
they came. FOR trading purposes into
Luebo
To seems that Lukinpa's eldest son had
recently died 0ud whom the old King
heard FOR the FIRST time his own tongue
upon the lips OF @ foreigner he was I'M
stautiy convinced that the spirit OK ms
lost son had returned 10 him.
The proposed execution resolved itself
into ceremonial OF mingled reverence
and welcoming and for two weeks Shep-
herd held meetings here.
Unfortunately Lukiuga who was a very
old man. died and the brother who sue
cerded him was sO barharOus savage
that he made fl impossible TO carry on
the work of mission OF exploration WITH
out bl0odshed. From that time Mr..
Shcph erd g work has been almost entire
lv confined 90 the Bakubas as the Ba-
kettle and other neighhorlng tribes have
proved impervious to- every appeal
Mr. shepherd has found that the tribes
arm more civilized in the interior than on
the coast The BalWbas. for Instance.
who until Mr. Shepherds visit were who'll
ly unknown and wholly isoiuted were bet
ter clothed had better tools ana agrlcul-
tural Implements. o. better formulated
government anc am altogether higher CIV
uizau0n than tribes weil-known TO us.
A custom common TO an the tribes Or
whom Afrs. Shepherd spoke i5 the killing
favcrito servants 10 act as companions
20 their masters or mistrcsses on theli
journey into unknown lands.
when King Lukinea died Mr. shepherd
heard the most piuous cries and groans
and anon investigation discovered that
tho Officers of The court We're making
ready .fe Kings reunue. no less than
-.von hundred slaves were executed In
hls honor
The Baubas are a good-naturai lazy
noorla easily influenced and not difficult
to foach They are the only tribe I'm this
mart of Africa who pay the slave trade.
carving the barter on among themselves
and with the neiehh0ring tribes and nor
hosltating to sell children 10 the canni-
bal Banulas Basongamanas and zap
ro-zap for food.
Tb.r Themselves Two chiefly upon the
root of the Cas4va which is easily grown
and which they pound, mix and roll into
hard balls.
tho H4l<tibas an alphabet and % written
LANGUAGE end Mrs. shepherd is now at
farluffne to raise H sufficient sum To
cover tho expenses OF small reading
book. .,.,-
Thelr iloa Of music rs elemental, their
er.re consisting of three or four tones
Thrv practice in po'ygarm. their most
binding form of agreement is breaking "a
twi-. Family affection is strong among
them and dropsy ana consumption tne
disease from which they suffer most.