The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-05-18
AN ARAB SLAVE HUNT
DESCRIPTION OF A RAID ON AN AZ
RlCAN VILLAGE.

The surprIse, the Flight OF the
Braves and the Capture of the
women and ChiIdrcn-The Ransom,
and How ~ Was Extorted and Paid.
Perhaps the simplest method Of doscrib
ing the raiding system as practced by
the Arab bands I'm the forest region be-
tween the Aruimi and the Kongo would
be I'm the form Of brief narrative OF
events based upon personal observation
The caravan whose adventures we are
about to follow was under the command
Of Osmani, a middle aged Arab who had
penetrated the continent from Zanzibar
more than 20 years before For two weary
weeks the wretched party had travelled
through an uninhahited portion of the
great forest, trudging each day through
dcnsely matted underground beneath the
impenetrable canopy OF primeval trees
and sleeping each night, hungry and
weary, upon the sodden ground I'm the vi.
tiated atmosphere Of dccaying vegetation
One afternoon, when the party was al
most i'm q condition OF despair one Of the
Manyema followers sustained q deep flesh
wound from n hard wood spear which had
been artfully concealed in the bushes be
side a well worn elephant track as a trap,
for the natives of the forest are well skill
ed In woodcraft. Upon discovering this
evidence of mans existence I'm the vicinity
the caravan halted, while scouts were sent
to survey the surrounding country. In a
short time it was reported that within an
hours march a large native village had
been sighted Osmanis instructions were
brief 1.-TWO hours before the dawn we
march upon that village. Tonight no fires,
no noise Sikap'
The night air grew gradually colder. A
fierce storm swept over the forest, and the
rain, filtering through the thick foliage
overhead, trickled in continuous streams
upon the naked bodies of the raiders. IL
was still dark and raining when the
huarse whisper, "Tendele-tendele upesi'
(March-march quickly passed from one
to another The party set forth i'm 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 clear.
ing each man buckled his ammunition
belt more tightly around his waist and
wound a strip of dirty white cotton cloth
about his head to serve as a distinguish,
| ing mark in the coming attack upon the
naked natives
With a shrill "Hae yah % the raiders
tired their first volley directly toward the
huts where the natives were sleeping
" 'Llah-la-ihuP roared the Manyema
as they crashed through the bushes into
tho midst of a multitude of panic stricken
savages, chasing the black figures hither
and thither. Women and children shriek-
ed, fowls few cackling toward the woods,
mems deep voices shouted incoherently,
-ss l-I,a, .
| relentless Manyema drowned all other
sounds Soon the village became enveloped
| in dense white fog Of sulphurous 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 victo-
| rious raiders staggering through the dev-
| asted village, driving scores of miserable
| women and children secured together in
| couples by means of lashings around the
| wrists Soon the early morning sun shone
| in all its radiance, its bright beams CLINT
| ing through the distant trees in sad con-
| trast to the desolation of dead bodies and
smoldering huts. By noon the raiders
| had established themselves In the former
homes of the natives, rough zeriba OF
| brushwood was formed around the outside
to serve as q precautiOn against any sud
den attack, and the trembling captive.
were placed in the center under watch
full guard.
A few days after the attack upon the
village the Arab chief Osmani gave in.
structions for two of the oldest of the cap
tive women to be liberated. Two feeble
creatures were brought forth and stood in
abjeot terror before the marauding chief
| II bN tn bs
forest" said the Arab. "Tell them Their
women are alive, and tell them that we
will set them free when they bring us ele
phant tusks. For each tusk of an elephant
we will give back one woman If within
five days from now they do not come e
us with ivory, we will take the womer
with us to another country and sell then
to people who will kill and eat them. Go
Tell our words truly" When the poor
women realized they were free to depart
they darted forward with extraordinary
agility into the woods.
On the morning of the fifth day the Arat
camp was hailed by q voice from the forest
lis it true that our women are still alive2'
sit is true. 1t is indeed true, " replied a
Manyema in the native dialect II bring
tusks of elephants But first let me heal
their voices that l may know you speak
truly" The women were soon produced
and were made to shout reply TO the ma
tive chief, who was all this time concealed
from sight among the trees. After much
delay, during which the Manyema in turns
ooaxed and threatened the timid and sus
picious native, the young chief at length
mustered sufficient courage to step forth
Depositing his burden Of ivory in the open
he glanced meaningly in the direction oi
Nkaa h Ivv
were liberated, and they rushed to the
woods. In this fashion, during severa
subsequent days. the Arab chief was grad
ually relieved of his prisoners, and in theil
place he became enriched by substantial
| stuck of Ivory Cnssnllls Mannzinn