Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-01-01

rectiOn. He took command personally
of an expedition up the Niger to quell
an uprising once, travelling on a big
tug-boat armed with rapid-fire guns.
When 80 miles up the river a fearful
fusilade of bullets and arrows came
from the banks, and every man on the
boat suddenly discovered that he had
business below, excepting Sir Claude.
He stood leaning against a stanchion.
smoking long cigar, and when the
storm burst never moved. Casting his
eye about, he noted where the fire
came from, and then gave orders to
train a Maxim on the bushes. The at
tack soon ceased, and Sir Claude look
ed about for his cigar 1t had been
shot away by a bullet.
Mcdonald had the native Africans
so completely under his control that
they would obey him to the death. On
one occasion he was out hunting
elephants, and the party suddenly
found themselves in the heart of a
stampede Those who have been in
such a predicament say there is moth
/ ing SO absolutely terrifying. The
trees sway and crack, the earth
rumbles and human beings either be-
come panic-stricken or remain chained
to the spot with terror
Knowing the danger in this instance
Sir Claude shouted for every one to
stand perfectly still, and only leap
to the side when an elephant charged
upon him. The entire party obeyed
as one man, with the result that not
person received any injury. Such &C
lions gave Sir Claude wonderful rep
utation in west Africa, and while
England there is highly respected.
both Germany and France, which
have not been so fortunate in their
representatives inspire no such feel
ing.
A feature of all German and French
administration in Africa that is partic-
ularly Objectionable to the native is
the burst of temper. The African
thinks that quick temper is an at
tribute of woman. For one who
shows it he can have no respect. This
is weakness in both the German and
French colonial officers. Englishmen
are just the opposite, and take care
never to show temper in dealing with
the native African. For this reason
their empire is highly thought of
among these savages. A negro under
British suzerainty will resent abuse
by contractor or employer. "You fog
me?" one will often hear him say,
mo, sir, we are Englishmen." They
stand by this right as stanchly as st.
Paul claimed protection as a Roman
citizen.
You never hear negro boast of be-
ing German or Frenchman.
With the natives of the Haussa dis
tIict Mcdonald was held in alteration.
He was the first governor who did
not make an attempt to abolish Mo
hammedanism, the followers of which
are numerous on the west coast. The
Haussa natives were allowed to build
mosques and not required to drill in
the early morning and evening, the
best time of day fer work in that
country. This gave opportunity for the
prayers, and Sir Claude's thoughtful
lCo0 w co ~ IluCA CIPp1 CC1dCCo CActC ChC
Haussa troops became the best and
most loyal on the coast.
He did not interfere with polygamy
either and with witchcraft only when
asked to. Witchcraft is practiced all
through central and south Africa and
the person accused of being a witch
is required to go through some ordeal
to disprove it, such as holding the
hand in boiling water, drinking
poison and being thrown in the river
with the hands tied Oftentimes the
accused one demanded such a trial,
and then Sir Claude did not interfere.
If appealed to he gave protection.
In all his administration his aim was
to give the negro civilization only so
fast as he could digest it. He did not
abolish slavery at a swoop, but made
laws whereby those in bondage could
gradually buy their freedom. He i'm
posed no custom duties on the natives
TO hamper trade, until they demanded
them. He made them observe no SAM
tary laws until the negroes took ex-
ample from the cleanliness of the
whites and began to follow it. He did
not believe in missionaries spending
thousands of dollars to establish
schools, but waited for the native to
gradually develop them himself as he
saw their advantage in the whites.
After Sir Claude had been at Old
Calobar a while a general tidying up
among the natives became evident.
They saw this man get up early every
morning, shave, put on clean suit of
white duck and appear as immaculate
as though just out of handbook, as
the saying is. The example told and
had it's effect in many native tribe.
Only one person that saw could
not appreciate it's results, remarked
the narrating surgeon, and this man.
by the way, was the only person knew
whom Sir Claude could not quite I'M
derstand The governor was leaving
Old Calobar and had mounted the deck
of a royal mail steamship. While
o+ondin0 thnro no smoke harSh1V tn