The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-27
THE cUsToMs OF MBoEDEMo.
PuuI du ChaiIIu'S First visit TO That
Wild Village

Paul Du ChaiIIu, the famous African
explorer whose recent visit to this city
caused considerable enthusiasm ii scien-
tific and social circles, tells an amusing
story concerning his reception at the vii
Iage Of MbonGemo. Africa
When I went TO Nbondemo,'' says SIR.
Du ChaiIIu. The gate had 10 be opened IN
order TO let ne in. The village was com
posed only OF a single street, each end
Of which was barricaded with stout sticks
or palisades. and as the country was en-
gagged in a war the doors or gates Of the
village had been closed Persons ap-
preaching If they could not explain why
they sought admission, were speared and
killed.
on the ends Of the sticks forming the
palisades were skulls Of wild bears, Of
goriIIas and chimpanzees- Directly on en-
tering the gate was confronted with a
large and hideous wooden IDOL. Il ! had
come alone ] would probably be now Uu-
able to tell the story As II was now
ever. l had with me one of the King nu-
merous SonS-in-law belonging 70 q FAR
town and he had sent word ot our pro
posed visit some days before I had hard
IL entered when all sorts Of wild shouts
were heard from one end Of the village
TO the other Women ran away. children
hid in their nuts. and the men kept at a
distance so the way to the paiAVer house
was free This structure was a large
shed built in the middle of the street and
on arriving there We seated ourselves. a
few men Drawer than the rest came to
look at what they thought the strange
being, the Spirit, that had come among
them.
HIS Majesty was presently seen head
ing q motley procession which It appear
cd. formed our reception committee. He
wore only an old English coat Of red.
He was d short thIcHly built negro, and
his-ears were decorated with huge rings.
He was followed by what 1 took 10 be
his prime minister The latter had for
his costume an old shirt, which had hut
one sleeve, With ~ buttons. d shirt that
was formerly white. doubtless. but then
almost black This simple garment was
all the supposed prime minister wore
THE third man IN the procession. who
] suppose. occupied some exalted position
in the Kings cabinet. Wore a beaver hat
OF antique fashion; nothing else. another
had around his neck a black stock. such
a the present generation is not acgIIaiTlt-
ed with and this formed the wearer :
sole article of attire
d" How the deuce did that fellow get
that cravat? ] asked myself. / afterward
learned that 1t was an heirloom in the
family. Then came a man who had an
old pair Of shoes How ne got them
was unable to find out. His father had
perhaps, left them 10 him. How steady
how grave they looked. as they passed
one after another, before me. only one
who saw could Imagin-. They were the
leading meu Of this village of AIbuudtraO
They thought themselves splendid and
their people thought the SANE They
had come out in state
Il had seen before 50 much OF the same
kind of african court costumes that /
tried To look sober. as they made their
appearance amid the shouts Of their
people. who praised their good looks
They looked at me and ] looked at
them. and then. as with one voice
they called on me 10 take notice how
handsome they We're. each at the same
time. III one way and another. making the
most Of what they Wore and displaying
II 10 the best advantage. ] said thew
were very flIe- They were satisfied that
/ was right