The times., 1898-11-13
MARcHAND's HISTORY.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning
the Noted Explorer.
(Frcm Boston Journal.)


(From Boston JournalD
Whatever may be said or thought OF
Marchand's refusal to bulge from
fashoda. there is no doubt that he is
one of the most daring and successful
African explorers of modern times. When
ne was eighteen years of age he was
lank. frail youth, with fabby mus
cles and shrinking gaze He held
aloof from the society and sports of
his school-fellows. He was taciturn.
reserved. and mighty reader OF books.
indeed his whole temperament justi-
ned his parents decision TO make a
notary of him. And so young Mar
chand. when his studies were over was
sent to keep a stool warm in a law
writer's office, where his work. Curl
ousiy enough, consisted chiefly OF COPY
ing out theatrical manuscripts But his
heart was not in his work When the
uay drudgery was over. he was off
across the plains OF Bresse, always
with some book of travel in his hand.
Very soon he began to dream of vaster
horizons Il must see the colonies he
would say to his fellow-clerks at what
ne termed the legal bagnio." There
was much talk in those days of the PROV
ess OF the sailor De Brazza as a hardy
explorer in Northern Africa. The papers
We're full of his doings. and forthwith
Marchand's thoughts dwelt uDon the Dark
Continent. The fixed idea which makes
men heroes or monomaniacs. as the case
may be. took full possession Of his mind
and ne entered the French marine in
fantry some time before his term Of con-
scription fell due. Then followed years
of obscure toll. dreary. voyages. ard un-
eyentful garrison duty in far-off ports.
Little Is known, naturally enough. OF
Marchand during this time. but he must
have acquitted himself with the highest
credit, for in 1887. in his twenty-fourth
year, he was gazetted sublieutenant of
marines.
And very soon the dream of his life
was fulfilled. Within few months OF
his promotion he was dispatched on a
punitive expedition 10 the French SouGan.
where he behaved so brilliantly and with
such consummate bravery in the hard
fighting that ensued, that he was made
Chevalier of Legion of Honor On ore
occasion. at the head of a handful Of
men, he took by storm a native fort
defended by hundreds of armed "Fuz-
zies." He got a nasty bullet wound in
the head at the outset of the action
he carries the scar TO this day-but he
did not cease lighting till the place was
| taken In his twenty-sixth year the ex-
notary's clerk became a fuli-hedged leu
l.
/ in the campaign against Ahmadu and
was again badly wounded. Later on ma
1 fought against Samory. after which he
went on a exploring tour TO the interior.
and eventually returned to France. to-
ward the end of 1892 with the rank OF
captain. Six months after this he was
intrusted with an expedition against the
Thiassale tribes, whom he subdued in a
fortnight. after two bloody fights. several
severe skirmishes, and the stormng Of
/ the capital. Next followed further ex-
ploration work. Marchand was back in
/ Paris in 1895. and was made an officer
of the Legion of Honor. In the following
( year he was charged with the perilous
mission about the upshot of which tina
world is talking today
! Let me conclude with an amusing story
/ of one of his recent adventures on his
present mission. A month or two before
/ bringing IN at Fashoda the expedition
! had been without fresh meat for several
weeks. Neither sheep nor game could be
had for love or money. And thus the
/ JOY of some of mis- troopers was great
I when. on a reconnaissance. they came
/ across a native hut, from the rafters
| of which disreputable-looking ham was
| hanging.
| The black proprietor willingly traded
the ham for a bright tin saucepan. the
/ glittering of which had filed his sayts.
/ soul with joy. The soldiers handed over
the ham to their company officer, who
\ determined to reserve il as a special
present for Capt. Marchand- They re-
! joined the main body of the expedition.
| and the subaitern, with much complai-
sance, went to the captain. ham in hand.
| Captain he said. Il have something
nice for you l don't exactly know If it's
bacon. but it's smoked meat anyway
Marchand smiled. Where did YOU get
it?" he said. When the circumstances
had been detailed, he said: You would
do well, l think, to ride out TO that vii
| lage and find ont if it is bacon or pork.
For my part. / have my doubts" '.Of
what. captain2" rejoined the officer
We'll" replied Marchand perhaps YOU
don't know that the Nyam-Nyams are
addicted to canEibalism when game is
scarce. as il Is now" The sous officer
was man endowed by constitution and
| circumstances with 4 healthy appetite
but the possibilities suggested by his com
| mander induced him to investigate be
fore taking further steps. So he went
out to the village. this time with a rather
more numerous escort-he had no desire
to be eaten himself-singled cut the some
| time owner of the ham. and questioned
| him vigorously. in the sign language, as
TO the origin of that ham. The negro
| smiled. patted his thigh appreciativeIy
| and smacked his lips, The smoked
! flesh was the thigh joint of a runaway
! slave, who. as afterward appeared, was
killed for the purpose at a native reii-
| gious ceremony. 1t was eventually hand
| ed over to the surgeon of the Marchand
! expedition, who buried it, after examina-
| ton, at the foot of a tree l wonder il
| he was watched while doing so by a
negro with bright tin saucepan in his
| hand.