The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-10-14
IN THE DARK CONTINENT.
An English Traveller Who Visits
Strange PEOPLE.

oiAii t'ilu countries lying norm Oh
Uganda, between Lake Rudolph and the
Nile valley. Captain Wcllby has visited
and lived with some twenty different
tribes, several OF whom are quite new to
explorers. Perhaps the most curious OF
these were two races OF giants living
rear Lake Rudolph, and people who
inhabit the dcvil-posscsscd district OF
Walamo
Captain Wcllby referred in the follow
ing terms to the district OF Walamo
visitors to which are supposed TO be-
come possessed OF devils:
One OF the most weird, remarkable
scenes ever witnessed was in Walamo
some iortnight's journey south OF Ads
Abeba. The place had an evil reputa-
ton, and l had frequently heard that
any person vcnturing to enter the coun-
try became a special prey OF demons
in fact became possessed OF devils. Oh
course | pooh-poohed the idea; but
| nevertheless, it made me more deter
mined than ever to go there. My assist
ants did not even demur when | told
them OF my resolve, but the fact really
was that they did not think that | would
be permitted to enter the devil-inlestcd
zone. On reaching the mysterious place
l found it to be one OF great beauty
1t was a fertile country, with luxuriant
vegetable growth, intersccted will,
streams. 1t was, however, very hilly
and we'll timbcrcd. Tic inhabitants |
found to be most friendly, although
they told me they had never seen a
white man before. So far all had gone
well, and | was more certain than ever
that the evil reputation OF the place
was only based upon superstitious non
sense. | do not say that subsequent ex-
periencc has left any clear idea i'll my
mind, and | cam in no way explain the
marvellous phenomenon which l wit
messed. l only state facts.
The first sign of anything wrong was
when one OF my Somali escort rushed
into the camp shouting: "Walamo!
Walamo!" He was frightlully excited.
He shook violently, and kicked like
1nadman and in the intervals between
his shricks he told me that he was pos
sessed by the devil. The whole OF that
night he was neither more nor less
than a maniac; but the next day he
was perfectly we'll. I had been pre-
viously told that once a man had be-
come "Walamo,' or dcvil-posscsscd he
WAS liable to a second attack, and as
simple measure OF precaution the mans
rifle was taken from him. While on the
march he had another attack OF this
curious madness. in the course OF which
he drew a knife and rushing about,
threatened to kill everybody. 1t took
several men to hold him down.
1t is supposed to be especially dam
gcrous to eat food in presence OF Wala-
mo people, and on one occasion one OF
my Soudancse saw Walamo gazing
intently upon him while he was having
his meal. Nothing untoward occurred
al the time, but two days later this man
became a raving lunatic. The latest
victim, who was my head man, had
always been a pcaccablc, orderly fellow,
but he protested to know before the
outbreak that he had become possessed.
Certain ii is that he, like the Somal,
kicked and yelled and exhibited similar
symptoms to the other uniortunates.
Without intcrnission he shouted WA
lamo' at the top OF his voice. and in
his madness injured three men. Even
tually he had to be tied up, but next
day he was perfectly we'll
Thinking | could perhaps do some
thing to explain these extraordinary oc
currenccs, resolved to solcmnly cat
meal in the presence OF the Walamo
myself. When all was prepared l had
something like 500 OF these people
watching me. In due time the meal
was over, and thought no more about
it. Here l should state that had not
days illness during the journey, and
was in the best OF health at the time.
Next day, however, l felt thoroughly
ILL., Needless to say, did not let any
OF my people know that anything was
wrong, nor can l attempt to explain
the cause. was quite unable to find a
cause for this mysterious business. AS
I saidlbefore, merely confnc myself to
a bare statement of facts 1t was a
most anxious time for me, as I did not
know whether at any moment the whole
camp might not become "Walamo."
Captain Wellby spent several weeks
among giant tribes, whose country he
traversed, and regarding them he said
they were very friendly. They were
quite naked, and both men and women
were most powerfully made They were
not OF the negro type, and some were
good-looking. Their color was some
thing between copper and black. All
the men have long hair down to their
waists, and this arranged in the form Of
bags in which they stow their various
trinkets, ETC., which they carry about
with them. Round their necks they
wore large numbers of iron rings OF
enormous weight. These were placed