The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-06
FRANCE CAPTURES sAMoRE.
Once a Slave, Then n Powerful Despot, and
Now to Be Exiled.

Now to Be Exiled.
Two weeks ago a despatch reached Paris
from the Governor Of Senegal. West Africa.
telling the good news that Samory, with his
family, chiefs and Sofas. had been captured by
Capt. Gouraud back of the Ivory Coast. The
great pest of West Africa has been caught at
last and will Join illustrious personages like
Behanzin. the Queen Of Madagascar. and other
adversaries OF France sent into exile.
No enemy of white enterprises in Africa has
made the lives of colonial officials so unhappy
as Samory has done in the last twenty years.
Samory has had n remarkable career. When
n little boy he was given to q chief in the west
Soudan rs q ransom for a captive woman. As
the lad grew up he showed intelligence. cour-
age. and talent, and became the chief adviser
Of the powerful marabout. whose slave he was.
TIL young man saw that all around were many
weak States. fragments OF the powerful empire
that had fallen to pieces upon the death OF the
great As time went on and his in
fuence increased. he made an alliance with the
ruler Of one OF these States. accumulated a lot
OF guns. cultivated friendship with other chiefs.
and when he succeeded 10 the rule OF the coun-
try In which he lived. southeast OF the head
waters of the Niger. he began his conquering
career among the scores OF States around him.
This was about twenty years ago. He coveted
the entire western Soudan. and his greed for
more territory made him troublesome to the
French, who had reached the upper Niger and
were acquiring the hinterfand OF Senegal.
About eleven years ago, when Samory was in
the height OF his power. he met his first great
reverse at the hands OF the French. with whom
he had been fighting for years. He would have
swept them from the country If it had not been
Tor their superiority in arms and military dis
cipline. His empire was composed Of $50 Of
forces brought against him had ever van
flushed this dusky rSte1ntate until the French
hf er neaca him IN Fr ISL and then he sued
to his capital, Bissandugu, to make a treaty
With FRANCES greatest enemy in Africa.
spirit and his appreciation. of his own impor-
lance for he. was very indignant because no
to him. He told Cant. PGroz that his son had
P Peen feGelyeG IN Paris As an equal by the
was a fact that ons Of a Sam M o son 81 S 6ad b;ee N
permitted to visit the French capital. where
The newEpaPeGs made him the lion Of the day.
You. Capt. p Psroz.H SAID " sa@ory. land the
servants of the men in France who have re-
celyed my son as their equal, If the, Ministers
themselves. and not treat With VIZ i .r ruler eS OF q
country that Is much larger than France
through one OF their servants"
This brayado did not brighten the embassy.
and. though it took time and patience to make
terms aasor 2 treaty y was finally signed By sam12ry;
- "NN'' .ha'' ~ IifC L0 SuElblltTtu al OF
his provinces west OF the Niger. and became
nominaly IA rassal Of France. He did not live
NJ to his promises. however. and has kept the
French in hot water In. the country east Of the
upper Niger most OF the time. They. however.
gradually drove him south. taking from him
district after. district, until they brought him
to bay in the hinterland OF tho Ivory Coast. In
the past few months Samory was greatly en-
harrassed by lack Of supplies and hostile tribes.
making for Liberia when they were caught.
Everybody in recent years has heard of the
sofas, and the name has long been associated
with West African fighting. The word. how
ever. is not a tribal or geographical distinction.
but merely signifies that those who hold the
title are followers Of Samory.
We have undoubtedly heard the last of Sa-
mory as n factor in the affairs OF west Africa.
The once humble slave was long the absolute
ruler Of a large territory, He gained his as
cendancy in large part through the zeal with
which he promulgated the tenets. Of Islam. He
pretended to be an apostle specially. commits
White men who have had an opportunity to
study amory say that he is not religious and
that there was no sincerity In his expressed do
sire to convert. all the. people OF his country to
Mohammedanism. He found. however. that
religion was n seryiceable tool with which to
advance his interests. and he could be as pious
as any one whom 1t served his purpose to as
sumo that role.