Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-05-11
the AwsMBA COUNTRY.
A Part OF Africa That Is Not Popular with
white People.

white People.
Cape Times.
1t is interesting to note the an
nouncement that the Chartered Go.
has lust taken over the Awemba coun-
try, an enoromus tract comprising
about 10000 square miles, into which
very few white men have hitherto
penetrated. As very little is as yet
known of this region it may perhaps
be well to state that the Awemba coun-
try lies southwark of the Tanganyika
and Nyassa plateau, and northward
from Bulawayo some 1850 or l,6O0
miles In tho course of conversation
which representative of this journal
had tho other day with man who had
lately returned from the country, he
gathered that the Awemba country is
occupied by tribe OF natives of an
exceptionally fine class, even superior
In physique TO tho Matabele. The
statement, however, that the Awemba
have hitherto refused TO allow white
men to enter their country appears to
be devoid Of foundation, for experience
has shown them to bo Hospitality dis
posed toward travellers.
The head chief of the Awomba,
M'wamba, died recently, it appears,
and for some reason or other report
got into circulation that until he was
buried the tribe would allow no .whito
mon to enter tho country. the burial
custom In regard to chief being that
the body Is kept for about year, and
that it is then buried, the head man
and number OF women being sacri-
feed on that occasion. The man re-
ferred to above entered the country in
the beginning of January from the
north, though several expeditions had
already set out, but had been COM
PEELED to return. He went straight into
the chiefs kraal without moleststion,
and after staying there about three
months was obliged to leave the coun-
try IN account Of the black water fever.
The country is exceedingly low and
swampy and consequently extremely
unhealthy for Europeans. The natives
carry on an extensive trade with the
Arabs at Zanzibar in ivory, and tho
latter, in order to try to keep the white
men out of the country, appear to havo
persuaded the tribe that in the event
of white man looking upon their
| chief the latter would die as soon as
| the white man should leave. Shortly
before Chittamakula. o former chief,
died, u Belgian officer made his way
to the chiefs kraal, and the latter
died shortly after the officers departure,
q circumstance which was naturally
seized upon by the Arabs to influence
the natives in the direction of refusing
| to allow the white men 10 enter the
country. and thus retain the valuable
trade in their own hands. A trooper
Of tho British South Africa Co. IS police
/ ftxyn hs. ntrxr ND ro
| his way to the kraal, but the chief
took offence for some reason or other
and gave him two days to leave the
village, with sufficient supply of food
to see him out of the country.
The country itself is of swampy
character, and for white man to be
able to live there is extremely doubt
full, except in the healthier portions
II abounds in game of all kinds, par
ticularly elephants, the trade in ivory
being of considerable dimensions. Stock
is exceedingly scarce, thore being very
few cattle or sheep in the country al
the present time.
Entering the country from the south,
an object of unusual interest that is
passed on the journey is the tree which
marks the last resting place Of Living
stone, which bears an address cut OF
the base of the tree, giving the name
OF the missionary. together with al
inscription in the native language,
Some curious customs are observed
among the Awemba tribe, particular,
in regard to the burial of the deat
chiefs. The body OF deceased chief
tain is kept for Il months, during
which time it remains in his hut, anC
at the end of that period what remain,
Of it is placed in calabashes. Owe
these, when the time arrives, ar,
slaughtered number Of the late chief
wives and also number Of othe
women, together with the chiefs heat
man, so that it would appear that tn,
prime minister of the country occupies
place fraught with a certain amour
OF risk. In the case of child do
tected stealing anything the father i
sentenced to have four fingers removed
from each hand and his wife and chill
dren are sold as slaves to tho Arabs
A liar is punished by being deprived
of his eyes, the argument buing tina
the liar secs too much and that i
would be better if no should not hap
the opportunity of sceing quito s,
much in the future, while anybod,
discovered spreading unreliable new
concerning the actions nf tho chief /
discouraged by having his cars cut off
though in this connection it is onl,
fair to add that tho practice Of mutila
tion has to a great extent died ou
during the last two or three years--ii
fact, since tho whites have commence,
to occupy tho Tanganyilsa and Nyass
plateau. 1t is pretty clear, however
that the Awemba country is scarcel
likely to attract any considerable whit
population, for some little time, at an
rate, in view of the fever stricken
character Of the district and the il
omened reputation which it has so ia
obtained in this respect from thos