The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-05

where the ire came from and then gave.
orders to train a Maxim on the bushes
The attack soon ceased. and Sir Claude
looked about for his cigar. IL had been
shot away by a bullet
Mcdonald had the native Africans So
completely under his control that they
would obey him to the death. On one
occasion he was out hunting elephants
and the party suddenly found themselves
in the heart of a stampede. Those who
have been in such a predicament say there
is nothing so absolutely terrifying. The
trees sway and crack, the earth rumbles
and human being either become panic
stricken or remain chained to the spot
with terror.
knowing the danger in this instance, Sir
Claude shouted out for every one to stand
perfectly still and only leap 10 the side
when an elephant charged upon him The
entire party obeyed as one man. with the
result that not a person received any in
jury Such actions gave Sir Claude a
wonderful reputation in West Africa. and
While England there is highly respected,
both Germany and France. which have
not been so fortunate in their representa-
lives inspire no such feeling.
A feature of all German and French ad-
mnistration in Africa that is particularly
Objectionable to the native Is the burst of
temper The African thinks that~a quick
temper is an attribute OF woman. For
one who shows it he can have no respect.
This is a weakness in both the German
and French colonial officers. Englishmen
are just the opposite, and take care never
TO show temper in dealing with the ma
tive African For this reason their en-
pire is highly thought of among these saw
ages. A negro under British suzerainty
viii resent abuse by a contractor or em-
ployer. You fog meg and will often
hear him say. mo sir, we are English
| nv n &
staunchly as st. Paul claimed protection
as Roman citizen.
You never hear a negro boast of being
a German or Frenchman.
To Act as n Governor.
With the natives of the Houssa district
Mcdonald was held in alteration. He was
| the first governor who did not make an
attempt to abolish Alohammedsnism. the
| followers of which are numerous on the
west coast. The Haussa natives were al
| lowed to build mosques and not required
! TO drill in the early morning and even
| ing, the best time of day for work in that
country. This gave opportunity for the
prayers and Sir Claude's thoughtfulness
was so much appreciated that the Haussa
troops became the best and most loyal or
| the coast
He did not interfere with polygamy
either and with witchcraft only when ask
ed to. Witchcraft is practiced all through
| Central and South Africa, and the per
son accused of being a witch is require,
to go through some ordeal to disprove 1t
| such as holding the hand in boiling water
drinking poison and being thrown in thu
river with the hands tied. Oftentlmes tn,
accused one demanded such a trial an,
then Sir Claude did not interfere. If ap
pealed to he gave protection.
In all his administration his aim wa
to give the negro civilization only so fas
as he could digest It. He did not abolsi
slavery at a swoop but made laws where
BY those in bondage could gradually bu
their freedom. He imposed no custom du
ties on the native to hamper trade, unit
they demanded them. He made them oh
serve no sanitary laws until the negroe
took example from the cleanliness of tn
whites and began TO follow it. He did no
believe in missionaries spending thous
ands of dollars to establish schools, bu
waited for the native to gradually develo
them himself as he saw their advantag
in the whites.
After Sir Claude had been at Old Gale
bar a while a general tidying up anon
the natives became evident. They sa
this man get up every morning bright an
early, take a cold bath, shave, put on
clean suit of white duck and appear eac
day as immaculate as though just out
a bandbox, as the saying is. The examp
, told and had its effect in many a natiy
tribe.
Only one person that I saw could nc
appreciate its results, remarked the mai
rating surgeon, and this man. by the way
was the only person l ever saw whom 81
Claude could not quite understand. TIL
Governor was leaving Old Calobar an
had mounted the deck of a royal ma
steamship. While standing there he spok
harshly to a servant for not polshin
his boots more brightly.
An American who had not long had hi
citizen papers thereupon made an impu
dent and uncalled for remark and som
one called him down.
DO you know who that is?" he in
quired.
why, it's Sir Claude. Mcdonald. gov
ernor of West Africa"
well" said the other in a loud voice
''what do 1 care If ne Is a sir, or a lore
or a duke. I'm an American and in ou
country we recognize no titles. Everyon
is equal in America. Everyone is a king!
Mcdonald looked at the man In wor
derment for while and then lighting
cigar walked away seemingly mystihed.
Oct. 10, 1899. Allen Sangree.