The National tribune., 1900-04-26
- u Il <BZ,QpiOf MzlJi07Aly
| zl. in AFRICA.
Carrying tie Gospel and Civilization to Congo Land.

needed meat; but of course she did not
even know of any guinea-fowls.
showed her some of the tribal marks on
my men, which showed that they were
cannibals, and not a choicy kind, either. ]
stroked the bellies of Ugoolo and Elerto to
show that they were very thin and hungry.
Then asked if her people were mostly fat
or poor, and which part of town the fat
ones lived in? She did not know; neither
did she think that they were at home. At
this we started for the woods with guns,
axes, saws, machetes, knives, and good
supply Of burning Goals to make fires, SO
that the children could roast corn for the
workmen.
This generous old lady did us a great
kindness by reporting to her people that
we were very hungry and wanted meat;
that We were heavily armed as warriors,
and that our guns would shoot all day,
as they were full, and that to cut off head ;
we had axes, knives, saws, etc, and that
she believed their best policy was to get in
a distant forest and hide until we went
away. We went to cutting wood, and had
no further trouble. Charlie got two guineas
Three hours later we returned to the ship,
anu lllc DlDl cdluG OIlL
Of their hiding places.
Some two months after this trouble I
thought it time to make friends or come
to an understanding with the natives, SO
about mile below this town | blew the
whistle, ran the steamer into their canoe,
beach and anchored. Over 40 or so men
women and children soon collected to trade.
Some had an egg, some an old rooster,
others had granga, or greens. Each had
something, and each was equally glad to
see us.
While the people were trading and buy
ing provisions, | was ratifying a peace
treaty by fondiing the children, telling sto-
ricS, and trying to get them on a hippo
potamus hunt. After an hours visit, we
parted good friends, with earnest requests
to always stop there when passing and
they would try to have provisions for us.
In this region the river must be six or
seven miles wide, with a line of low hills
on each side. Sandbars and an occasional
island were passed, but nothing special was
noticed during Some two days steaming,
except hippopotami, buffalos, elephants,
birds, etc; but to one who is constantly in
these regions thus game is not much attrac-
ton. My most general interest was in
watching what termed the Twin Points"
which were about north of Bolobo, across
the river, some distance back on the French
side. These two points were plainly yisi-
bic for long distance.
BAPTIST MISSION STATION.
Steaming on we came to the district of
Lobrolella, which is occupied by the Baptist
Missionary Society, which has had a mis-
sion station there for about u years, and
real good work is being done among the
natives. This station is located about one
degree south latitude, on the south branch
Of the Congo, in dense forest Of the heavi-
est timber in all Africa. The land is some
what rolling, and is generally very rich.
Some two miles back from the river are
large grassy plains, on which feed the an
imals Of that region.
The geology OF this region Is vet in
darkness. The earthly foundation of the
knoll on which this station sits is a
clay, which seems TO contain some iron and
in places fine beds of mari are found
at depth OF several feet under the soil.
| have also found kaolin above and below
here. 1t was while here on visit, in 1887.
with Mr. and Mrs. Ellington, that an am
cient chief named Iahlingwala came to
visit Mr.. Richards and Mr.. Darby, who
were then In charge of this station This
old chief seemed very kind and invited us
to come over TO his town, some II miles in
the interior. As we were here for an in
definite period, owing to our transport be-
ing stopped on account of trouble among
the carriers down river, and no food TO be