The National tribune., 1900-04-19

These are jealous people, and are fail
mechanics and successful workers in met
ais. | am also told great stories of tn,
south and west. but l have no reasons tC
believe any of them.
l believe that by diligent search. posi-
bly,, diamonds might be found. There ar'
no real facts to show that the Kimberley o.
| Orange River gold and diamond mines are
the richest in those regions. They may
| be poor III comparison, and certainly are Il
my lnformantS are correct, which have ne
reason 10 doubt. rs their stories arc mostly
proven by samples, which have seen, anc
L am satisfied of the facts.
DEPOSITS OF COPPER AND IRON.
Just north. on the lakes of MantumbG
and other inland bodies OF fresh water, il
is said, copper and iron abound in large
quantities, and that the mines would bt
worked if there was demand for the met
al, but as at that time there was no rail
road communication with the coast it could
| only lie used for domestic purposes. 1t Is
made into large N-shaped plates weighing
about five pounds and used as money.
Five buy good stove, IS buy a large OK,
and from one TO 100 buy an elephant tusk,
| according to size.
BY the surface indications this whole
| southern plateau must be a mine of min
eral wealth Yet unknown 10 the outer
E.world. When this heavy forest is cleared
away and civilization enters, there is no
doubt but this will be found to be the Gar
den of Eden of all earth, and unlimited i'll
It's mineral supplies.
Returning TO old mother Congo. at the
mouth of the kasai, Just above where the
kasai enters the Congo, we find a Catho-
lie Mission where children are being edu-
Gated and taught in their faith, and are
also taught industries and are doing well
This station is generally in charge of two
fathers, who are very hard workers. A few
of
the Congo is the mouth of the Lawson Xiv
er, a small stream coming in on the French
or north side of the main stream. This
little stream must be the outlet of series
of springs, as the water is clear and bealI-
tiful. Some three or four miles up this lit
white SidehillS of some 400 To 1CO feet IN
hight. Little is known as yet of this local
Ity.
BWEMBA MISSION.
Now the navigators must begin to awak-
en- TO duty, as the river as we ascend it is
becoming more dangerous from rocks,
SandbarS, etc. About two hours run
brings us TO the native town of Bwemba,
where Rev. A. Ellington established a
missionary station several years ago, but
has met with little success as Yet.
Back OF this station to the south is q
high point of perhaps 600 or 700 feet in
hight from which may be seen the entire
surrounding country. just above here the
river widens out TO several miles-in fact
no one knows how wide, but it may be
roughly estimated at from three TO five
miles, and is quite shallow and full Of small
sandbars which become islands i'll low
water.
BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL BIRDS.
These islands and sandbars are the sum
ming places Of the hippopotami, alligators,
and birds of all kinds many very heauti-
full i'll plumage. Among them is the gray
pelican, which often grows TO a large size.
have seen them weighing 30 pounds, with
wings some nine feet across. The blue
stork is also found in large sizes, but the
most beautiful of all is the anc lent Egypt
ian ibis. with a white body and short, pur-
pie, bushy tail. In each wing is found
from three 10 II ihiS-Spray plumcs, the most
beautiful and artistic of all feather orna-
mcnts which could adOrn the attire of our
ladies.
We have in this region some 20 orna-
mental birds which might be sent 10 Amer
lea alive, or any part of the plumagc pre-
pared and sent there by The thousands.
These birds range i'll size from the pelican
to the smallest linnet.
Nearly every bird of Africa is of bright
plumage: some one color, but many of diff
ferent colors, from golden yellow to deep
brown, and all other colors TO suit nice
new dress suit and hat TO match.
This vicinity, known as Lone Island
District, from Il small island out in mid
stream composed of a large mass of rocks,
is Il most picturesque region, and here on
both sides of the river are heavy lines of
forest, i'll some cases reaching two or three
miles back from the stream.
VALUABLE TIMBER.
In this dense grow tn Of mahogany, sat |
nwood, copal and polyander trees, rubber |
vines and other vines, may be found the |
mastodon OF to-day. the elephant, and his |
neigh bors in the kline family, from the drop |
lorn buffalo to the long, slim-horn cattle |
md deer from the little dwarf of 20 pounds |
o very large kind weighing from 700 10
500 pounds. Here are, also, the play
grounds of the aquatic hippopOtami, Of three
tinds-the little black, the big brown, and
he white. The latter are very rare, but do
,Xist. The clowns Of the forest are the
monkeys, and here they are found in great
'ariety, from the little gray ones weighing
ess than a pound at full growth to tie
ma jor' monkey, often weighing 20 to so
pounds. The latter is black, with white
des, which gives him an official appear
lnce. / might mention the firc-red and
he three varieties of gray monkeys, and
IN occasional bipcd monkey, as some of
he natives are very clownish. However,
ling.
Leaving Lone Island Point We steam in
learly a northeast direction for some two
II three hours, when we get among a Sc
les Of islands, some not more than mere
andbars. and some of several miles III
angth Most Of them arc only yellow
andbars on which a patch of floating
,rass has lodged and established AN island
lpon which has grown either mimosa
rush or yellow nOn-cdihle plums. The I
after is a splendid wood for fires. and one
eldom lands at an island but what he
inds enough dead and dry plum brush to ;
ouk meal.
The way OF the poor, travelling fisherman
S not always StrCWn with roses, but often
.ftcr hard days padding he is enabled
o get a fair meal OF crocodile eggs, which
ire about as large as goose eggs, or he {
nay be able 10 get a meal of the eggs Of
he Sand-SWallOwS, which are very prolific :
ayers, and, like the crocodiles, hide their
ggs in the sand. In eight hours run
rom Lone Island Point we usually reach {
SOlobO. along series Of native huts of some
i've miles III length. 1T was i'll the midst
# these towns where our Brother Grcnfell,
# the Baptist Missionary Society of Lon
lon, settled and built a large station for
Industrial work. Mrs. Grenfeli being
CAMERON lady and a descendant of Ham,
$ very highly educated and rules her
jongo people with kindness and love,
md yet SWayS Il strict hand in an cmer-
rency, and is in all ways most eStimable
ady and very helpful wife 10 her husband
vino may well be called Britains faithful
ervant Of God in Central Africa. Their
,,l r.att in