The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-06
4 HEROIC RESISTANCE.
A Tale Of the Liberian Coast.

churning her way through the CLASSY
roll of the Atlantic. Away to the south
stretched a limitless waste of gray sea
streaked with wreaths of low-lying
mist to the north lay the coast OF AT
RIGA. Clusters of feathery palms, yellow
beaches swept by eternal surf, and rows
of native huts nesting between the cot
tonwood forest and the ocean, rose 10
view and faded astern as the steamer
rolled along.
Captain Orme leaned over the bridge
rails, glancing at the approaching coast
line and grumbling at the heat, for 1t
was the season of the rains and the at
nosphere was like that of hotnouse.
six fathoms, SIR hailed a Quarter
master, as he dipped the lead; and the
mate observed, IT'S shoaling fast, and
there are too many uncharted rocks
about to make this a nice neighborhood
to navigate in the dark
| Again Captain Orme locked at the
Dreaming breakers ahead; then he
stamped upon the bridge. for the climate
OF Africa in the rainy season is trying
to both health and temper. Hang those
krooboys for bringing us into a place
like this,' he broke out. Il shall be
glad to see the last of them-thought
they'd take charge of the ship once or
twice. Go down and see if any headnlan
can pilot us in. We shall have TO stay
all night; won't risk going out in the
dark.
| The mate descended to the deck, where
some 200 Krooboy laborers, returning
TO their native country in the Liberian
| bush after labor contract with the fac
| Of 40 oil riy a rG the Cold Goa ST
lay about in picturesque simplicity of
attire. Broad-shouldered, muscular
fellows they We're, with blue stripe
tattoed down the center of each ebony
forehead, the marked of the Kroo ma
ton. Some We're clad in crimson fan
mel jackets and battered silk hats, but
the majority were content with the sim
pie waist cloth-"a healthy and very
econmical garment as the Scotch en-
gineer said All about them lay cases
of Hamburg gin and sharp ,natchets,
which represented part of the fruit OF
their labor, wages in West Africa being
mostly paid in kind
| Any of you Krooboys fit take 'teamer
| in?" asked the mate: and Immediately
there was babel of voices and q crowd
of eager applicants. Nothing delights
a negro more than the assumption of a
little brief authority. The choice was
made, and broad shouldered giant, re-
joicng in the name of Old Man Trouble,
stalked pompously to and fro upon the
bridge, his woolly hair projecting
through the place where the crown Of
his silk hat should have been. Once he
laid his hand upon the telegraph, but the
mate was too quick for him.
mo niger touches that; you're only
here to show the way, not to command /;
savvy?" said Captain Orme.
mot niger, sah," answered the man;
| only low bushman and Liberia man
niger Then his mouth expanded
Unto the broad grin of the African, and
pointing to a white-walled building
among the palms, he added. New Gus
tom house, sab; Krooboy burn him one
| time"
The mate, who posed as an encyclo-
pedia in West African matters, laugh
ed. The old question-free trade YER
sus protection he said. They play
it out vigorously here, sometimes as a
comedy and sometimes as q tragedy.
In any case it's rough on the Krooboy,
who doesn't want to be governed at all,
to be taxed extortionately to pay for
Improvements in Monrovia. l wonder
how many custom houses he has
burned"
Old Man Trouble, who understood the
speech, nodded approval. Liberian
man bushman," he said I'VE fit to
fight him too much"
The Krooboys be hanged" broke in
Captain Orme; Pm sick of them. Well
have Liberian officer aboard now to
charge US $500 for landing this crowd,
of which he'll pocket half. Blow the
whistle for the canoes"
Three times the deep boom of the
steam whistle rang out, and echoed
along the palm-clad bluff ashore, until
the sound died away and was lost in
the monotonous song of the surf. Then
the Dunlin's propeller turned slowly
astern and her anchor ratified down.
Presently little launch steamed out
from behind a point of surf-swept
rocks, and when she shot alongside q
sable representative of the Liberian Re-
public, covered with furnished gold
lace, strutted towards the bridge with
the air of an Admiral of the feet. You
are fined $50 for anchoring without per-
mission, and if you desire to land those
Krcomen you must pay two and a half
dollars a head he announced. and
proceeded to climb the bridge-ladder.
/ Stop where you are, daddy" Ia COM
| mon mode of address on this COAST,
said the Captain, laughing. No one
sets foot on this bridge until he is asked
| You'll get no $50 from me. and as to
paying two and a half each for the
Krooboys, that's more than the best
niger in Africa is worth even if he is
a customs officer. However, there they
are; you can sail in and collect it your
self. Don't be too exacting, though,
for they've all got machets."
/ Hardly had the dignitary of the Black
Republic reached the fore-well than a
! pandemonium of angry yells rose from
the crowded deck, and bright machet-
| blades glittered above a maze of black
naked arms. Captain Orme, who had
been fined too many times on frivolous
pretexts to love the Liberians. smiled
| grimly as the customs officer hastily
returned to the foot of the bridge-lad
der. His teeth were chattering and
| his knees shook like an acacia leaf in
the rush of the harmattan.
| You shall pay for this he gasped.
IF you attempt to land one boy III
fire on you, and advise Monrovia TO put
| our navy on your track"
IF the Liberian navy gets in my way
I'll run over the thing replied the
Captain: lit looked like an overgrown
launch the last time / saw it. Is yosir
western squadron like the other. eh !?
If they won't pay, the krooboys must
go on 10 Sierra Leone for they shall
! not take my boats ashore for you to
cor, fiscal e-sea2 Here's q word of adj