New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-05
THE AWEMBA COUNTRY.
AN UNTIEALTHFUL AFRICAN DISTRICT WITH
QUEER TRIBAL CUSTOMS

AN UNIEALTHFUL AFRICAN DISTRICT WITH
QUEER TRIBAL CUSTOMS
From The Cape Times.
1t is interesting to note the announcement
that the Chartered Company has just taken
over the Awemba country. an enormous 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, IL
may perhaps be we'll to state that the Awemoa
country lies southwark Of the Tanganyika and
Nyassa plateau. and nOrthward from Bulawayo
some fifteen or sixteen hundred miles In the
course Of conversation which n representative
Of this journal had the other day with a man
who had lately returned from the country he
gathered that the Awemba country is occupied
by a tribe OF natives OF exceptionally hne
class. even superior In physique 70 the Matabee.
The statement. however, that the Awemba have
hitherto refused to allow white men to enter
their country appears 10 be devoid Of founda-
ton, for experience has shown them to be hos
pitably disposed toward travellers.
The head chief Of the Awcmba, Mwamba,
Gied recently. il appears, and for some reason
or other q report got into circulation that unU
he was buried the tribe would allow white
men to enter the country. tho burial custom in
regard to chief being that the body is kept for
about a year. and that it is then buried, tho
head man and a number OF women being sacri-
feed on that occasion. The man referred to
above entered the country In the beginning OF
January from the north. though several expedl-
tons had already set out, but had been COM
PEELED to return. He went straight into tho
chiefs kraal without molestation. and after
staying there about three months was obliged to
leave the country on account Of the backwater
fever.
The country is exceedingly low and swampy.
and consequently extremely unhealthy for Euro
peans. The natives carry on an extensive trade
with the Arabs at Zanzibar in ivory and the
latter in order to try TO keep the white men
out OF the country, appear to have persuaded
the tribe that in the event Of a white man look
ing upon their chief the latter would die as soon
as the white man should leave. Shortly before
Chttamakula, a former chief. died a Belgian
officer made his way to the chiefs kraal, and
the latter died shortly after the officers de-
parture, a circumstance which was naturally
seized upon by the Arabs to influence the
natives in the direction Of refusing to allow the
white men to enter the country. and thus retain
the valuable trade in their own hands. A
trooper OF the British South Africa Company 3
police recently entered the country and made
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 i sufficient supply or
food to see him out Of the country.
The country itself is Of a swampy character
and for white man to be able to i've there IS
extremely doubtful, except in the healthier por-
tons II abOunds in game Of all kinds particu-
larly elephants the trade in ivory being Of con-
siderable dimensions. Stock is exceedingly
scarce. there being very few cattle or sheep In
the country at the present time.
Entering the country from the south an OBJ
ject of unusual interest that is passed on the
Journey is the tree which marks the last rest
ing-place OF Livingstone, which bears an IN
scriptiOn cut on the base Of the tree, giving the
name Of tho missionary. together with an in
scripton i'm the native language.
Some curious customs ale observed among the
Awcmba tribe particularly In regard to the
burial Of the dead chiefs. The body OF a de-
ceased chieftain is kept for twelve months. DUR
ing which time il remains in his hut, and at tia
end OF that period what remains of II is placed
in calibashcs; over these. when the time arrives.
are slaughtered a number OF the late chiefs
wives. and also number OF women together
with the chiefs head man. so that 1t would APP
pear that the Prime Minister Of the country
occupies place frausht with certain amount
OF risk in the case Of 4 child detected stealing
anything the father is sentenced to have four
fingers removed from each hand, and his lie
and children are sold slaves 10 the Arabs
liar is punished by being deprived OF his eyes
the argument being that the liar sees too much,
and that il would bc better that he should not
have the opportunity Of seeing quite so much IN
the future; while anybody discovered spreading
unreliable news concerning the actions OF the
chef is discouraged by having his ears cut on.
though in this connection Il Is only ialr 10 duu
that the practice OF mutilation has to a great
extent died out during the last two or three
years-in fact, since the whites have commenced
TO occupy the Tanganyika and Nyassa plateau
II is pretty clear, however. that the AWelnDa
country is scarcely likely 10 attract any CON
siderable white population, for some little tlne
at ana rate in view Of the fever-stricken char-
acter Of the district, and the iu-omened reputa-
ton which II has 50 far obtained IN TINS respcct
from those who have visited IL.