The National tribune., 1900-04-05
A TRIBE OF LEPERS.

they were afflicted with leproSy, and had
been banished, and came by water in canoes
to this then wild spot and settled by them
selves. They had lived here perhaps hun
dreds of years with no physician near.
Some had lost a part of toe or finger at
the first joint, others a whole finger or toe,
and in a few cases an arm at the elbow, and
in one case a leg at the knee; but Twas told
that these latter cases seldom lived.
stayed among them some two hours, and
finally got them to talking in a friendly,
confidential manner. / listened to their
many tales of sorrow, and was invited to
return. Poor people, have not seen them
since.
1t was some time after that / learned OF
an almost sure remedy for leprosy. have
seen several cases which seemed cured after
long standing. The remedy used was
good food; then there was applied 10 the
afflicted parts a poultice of pulverized log
wood, similar to camwood of our drug
stores, which is of a very aStringent nature,
and will dry the disease by drawing the
water out AID then heal it up. In every
ease which I have seen that was cured
the entire black skin had peeled off
leaving an ordinary European-looking
skin. Leprosy can be cured, even in very
bad cases, if the patient will strictly follow
these directions.
BIG QUEEN YEALIE.
After leaving this village we took south
easterly course. AS the river broadens Il
some three miles we had our choice %
routes. As we got bat little goods at The
last stop, l decided TO make as direct rs
possible for Mooschie pronounced Mooshy)
Il Batcki town OF some 800 people, and the
home of the Big Queen Yealic, who hold:
sway over the many trihcs Of Back
people within some 2G0 or 800 miles Of he
home. ] had heard of her many time.
when far away, and had seen her at on
station at LeopoldyiIc, when she had EeeI
down with her people on trading cXpedi
tons, and had also met her on her trips il
cauce, when she was out on stale occasions
in fact, / always considered Yealie as /;
| friend.
Some two hours before we reached
! her landing we had 10 pass Limestone
| Point, where the current was very strong
| This arm of the river is very narrow. as il
runs behind Il Serias Of rocky islands. II
| trying to ascend these short rapids Tie
oli'llss tlt' ram I'N 'l lll'
steamer. and before We could again &, con,
troll of her she was brOadSidc 10 the current
! Th" stream was narrow: We cOul neither
move ahead nor astcrn. My engineer
Mambu, stopped the engines. and V,
driftcd into Il better place. and headed NJ
stream again with n heavy head Of steam
and every man az his post, with orders not
TO speak unless really necessary. | selected
the route ard told Mambu to watch closely
and at the signal pat on full steam.
also told the p lot TO watch closely and obey
every order at once.
ASCENDING TIE RAPIDS.
We finally reached the foot of the swirl
Ing, S"cthin| rapids. / gave orders for
full sean. and pointed the only Gear way.
whioh WIS only some 40 to % feet vide.
and in less time than it takes To tell it the
gallant steamer was ploWiug through the
terrible rapids. mOmentarily rising higher
and higher. until in a few minutes we had
at the risk of our lives and steamer. ascend
ed ra pidS in safety. Every man on board.
/ believe, breathei Il sigh of relief, and |
felt that hereafter would not fear any trial
or danger with my gallant African crew
Our safety and happiness was of very
short duration. In about one hour we
reached the town Of Mooschie. Having a
large crew, and being well nigh exhausted,
/ told Mambu and Capt. Bias colored Cor
porai to take all the men and go half mile
behind the town, where | saw lot OF
dead timber standing, and get wood, to
fire for the next day.
/ began looking over the steamer after
the party had gone, TO see that all was
well, and also TO examine the charts which
i had borrowed of a friend to make this
trip by, and to aid me in making new
charts. / noticed that no natives came
around to trade, as they usually did when we
were near a town. decided to pay a visit
40 10 mr. al 10 to Ia n
the boys were doing and hurry them up,
as | wanted to get a good landing for the
night
The town front lies some six or eight
reds from the water edge, on a little rise
of seven or eight feet. AS 1 got among
the huts l noticed that all were closed, but
l could hear the people talking. / called
out loudly so that all could hear, saying
who L was and that they need not fear us,
as we were only after wood and would like
10 buy any provisions which they might
have to sell. No response came. ] did not
understand this condition of affairs. but
went on to where the people were work
ing.
ATTACKED BY NATIVES.
just before arriving at the edge of the
forest | saw an army Of warriors skuIking
behind trees and in the grass. II seemed
as if that neck of the woods was full of red
paint. The nearest was PERHAPS 300 feet
from me. j heard the signal given 10
charge, and all seemed to spring at once
toward me. Some were armed with clubs.
some with spears, others with knives. IT
was plain that to wait meant death, either
instant or by long torture, and by trying
to reach the steamer | might get away
from them could only trust my legs fo.
safety. | took a look at the approaching
yelling mob of perhaps anywhere from 800
to POO. ! turned and took look in the
direction Of the steamer. 1t seemed miles
away, but / started, and so did the natives
Really, it seemed to me that man never
made as good time as ] did on that occa-
sion. On arriving at the landing | found
that John with his soldiers and my men
had, by another route, got in ahead of me
and were ready for business.
In one minute from the time that ar
rived large party had gathered on the
nearby brow of a small hill. i was we'll
nigh exhausted and had to sit down before
could even come to a conclusion as 10
what was best to do. To act rashly would
do no good, and only iniure the mission
ary. My pride was to save respect for
each messenger, even if I had to fall by
so doing In few minutes / came to the
conclusion that unless ] made an example
in this case, it would probably mean a
very severe blow 10 whoever followed me.
Capt. Bia wanted to eXterminate the LOT