Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-28
ARAB SLAVE HUNTERS,

CasselFs Magazines: Perhaps the SIM
plest method of describing the raiding
system, as practiced by the Arab bands
in the foreign region between the Arnimi
and the Congo, would be in the form of a
brief narrative of events based upon per-
sonal observation. The caravan whose
adventures we are about to follow was
under the command of Osmani, a mid
dle-aged Arab, who had penetrated the
continent from Zanzibar more than
twenty years before. For two weary
weeks the wretched party had travelled
through u~ninhabited portions of the great
forest, trudging each day through dense
ly matted underground beneath the i'm
penetrable canopy of primeval trees, and
sleeping each night, hungry and weary,
upon the sodden ground in the vitiated
atmosphere of decaying vegetation. One
afternoon, when the party was almost in
a condition of despair, one of the Man.
yema followers sustained a deep flesh
wound from a hardwood spear which
had been artfully concealed in the bushes
beside a well-worn elephant track as a
trap, for the natives of the forest are
well skilled IN woodcraft. Upon discov-
ering this evidence of mans existence in
the vicinity the caravan halted, while
scouts were sent to survey the surround
ing country. In a short time it was re-
POI ~" ti"t III oil iodl - iidilH Il
large native village had been sighted.
Osmanl's instructions were brief: 1.-TWO
hours before dawn we march upon that
village. Tonight no fires, no noise. Sikia."
The night air grew gradually colder.
A fierce storm over the forest, and the
rain filtering through the thick foliage
overhead, trickled in continuous streams
upon the naked bodies of the raiders. 1t
was still dark and raining when the
hoarse whisper, "Tendele! Tendele
upesi' (March, march quickly, passed
from one on to another. The party set
forth in single file; no word was spoken,
and the only sound that betokened their
progress was a slight swishing of leaves
and the mufiled tread of naked feet upon
the spongy ground. Upon nearing the
| village clearing each man bnckled his
ammunition belt more tightly round his
waist, and wound a strip of dirty white
cotton cloth about his head to serve as a
distinguishing mark in the coming at
tack upon the naked natives. With a
shrill "Hae Yah!' the raiders fired their
first volley directly toward the huts
where the natives were sleeping. "Llah-
la-ihu.' roared the Manyema, as they
crashed through the bushes into the
midst of a multitude of panic-stricken
savages, chasing the black figures hither
and thither. Women and children
shrieked, flows flew toward the woods,
mems deep voices shouted incoherently;
but the loud rife reports and shouts of
the relentless Manyema drowned all
other sounds. Soon the village became
enveloped in a dense white fog of sui
phurous smoke and mist, in the obscurity
of which the raiders guns flashed forth
tongues of fire.
Gradually the tumult ceased. The cool
morning breeze dispelled the heavy cloud
of mist and smoke, revealing the VIC
t@orious raiders staggering through the
devastated village, driving scores of mis-
cradle women and children secured to-
gether in couples by means of lashings
around the wrists. Soon the early morn
ing sun shone in all it's radiance, it's
bright beams glinting through the dis
tant trees, in sad contrast to the desola-
ton of dead bodies and smou1dering
huts. BY noon the raiders had established
themselves in the former home of the ma
tives; a rough zeriba Of b~rushwood was
formed around the outside to serve as a
precaution against any sudden attack,
and the trembling captlVes We're placed
in the centre under a watchful guard.
A few days after the attack upon the
village the Arab chief Osmani ave in
structions for two of the Oldest of the
captive women to be liberated. Two
feeble creatures were brought forth, and
stood in ahject terror before the ma
rauding chief. Go to your people who
are hiding in the forest" said the Arab.
Tell them their women are alive and
tell them that we will set them free when
they bring us elephant tusks. For each
tusk Of an elephant we will give back
one woman. If within five days from now
they do not come to us with ivory. we
will take the women with us to another
country, and sell them to people who will
kill and eat them. Go! Tell our words
truly!' When the poor women realized
they We're free to depart they darted for
ward with extraordinary agility into the
woods.
On the morning of the fifth day the
Arab camp was hailed by a voice from
the forest: rs it true that our women
are still alive?' 1T is true; it is indeed
true" replied a Mayema in the native
dialect. II bring the tusks of elephants.
But first let me hear their voices, that I
may know you speak truly" The women
were soon produced and We're made to
shout a reply to the native chief, who
was all this time concealed from sight
among the trees. After much delay, dur
ing which the Manyema in turns cOaXed
and threatened the timid chief at length
mustered sufficient courage to step forth.
Dcpositing his burden of ivory in the
open, he glanced m~eaningly in the direc-
ton of the Arabs camp. Instantly sew
eral women We're liberated, and they