The new age. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?, 1902-08-02

entirely dependent upon me and have
been my wards now for FIVE years.
My interest in these boys became
the stronger as their traits of charac-
ter came more and more boldly into
prominence upon longer acquaintance
They soon became a fascinating study
in education and psychology. Their
natural wildness and utter lack of
any inherited tendencies towards civ
ilization made this study unique.
Kassongo became a messenger boy
whose duties were principally to act
as negotiator in the many diplomatic
relations had to maintain with chiefs
and tribes around me. Kondola acted
as usher to the crowds who thronged
my house or tent. and also as purchas-
er os supplies and provisions. They
both learned to read and to write In
the native tongue. which | reduced to
alphabetic characters for the purpose.
/ did not. however, teach them any
foreign language.
When they came under my care.
they would lie, fight, steal and bamble
whenever the occasion offered. To
break up these habits was not the
work of a moment But before | left
Africa with them, | could trust all my
goods and my life to them. and they
were of a better moral character than
the average negro lad is in the South
ern States of America, though | do
not intend any invidious comparison.
The methods | used were both moral
suasion and the rod. found soon
after | made their acquaintance that
the little savages really had a clear
conception of moral distinctions, and
their habits were the result of environ
ment and not of originally defective
moral constitution.
In some perilous adventures | had
abundant evidences of their devotion
and fidelity. Once went alone with
Kassonga to the summit of a high
mountain above Wissmann Falls to
make some geographical observations.
While walking along the grassy sum-
init. fell abruptly into a concealed
game pit, ten feet deep and set with
sharp poisoned stakes. | sustained a
severe wound. and narrowly escaped
death. With the boys help | scramb-
led out of the pit. but became so weak
that could not go farther. Kassongo
ran FIVE miles to get help from a ma
tive town. returning in a little more
than an hour; then hes tucked the
wound to free it from poison, and set
about nursing me through the almost
fatal illness which followed. am
sure that I owe my life to his prompt.
ness and presence of mind on this oc.
casion.
At another time Kassongo with two
other lads made an escapade into a
dangerous country adjacent to ouI
settlement, and it became necessary
for me to go to their Immediate rescue
Taking with me Kondola, who had re
fused to join the others, made a fore
ed march into the interior to find
them. We walked fifty miles the first
day, and slep in a forest infested
with leopards and elephants and
though Kondola was only twelve years
old he did not complain or falter
When we ached our destination.
was SO exhausted that | had to be lift
ed into boat; but my little compan
ion promptly joined in a game of ball
which the youngsters of the tow
were playing and seemed not the leas
the worst for our severe xrtions.
Once we were obliged to make |,
perilous trip by canoe down the Ka
sal through the Wissmann cataracts
in order to meet a steamer that wa
expected below. myself took the pad
die at the stern, but Kassongo volun
teered for the dangerous place of pad
dler at the PROV. where he had to kee
the lookout for rocks. sand banks
crocodiles and hippopotami, and to d.
large part of the steering. He mair
tanned his post all day long. the boa
making nearly seventy-five miles, an
we passed in perfect safety throug
one of the worst pieces of water o
earth. This boy is WONDERFULLY ader
in watercraft; he swims. dives an
rows amazingly well and he know
! no such thing as fead on the waite
But for his level head on another o,
" casion a whole canoeful of men an
: women would have been drowned.
When the time for my departure fo
America drew near, several of m
: staunch little friends clamored to b
allowed to accompany me to tn
:. white mans country" What | ha
told them had greatly excited the
curiosity. and it was pathetic to sc
: their eagerness to go. OF cours
!, | could not axe them all, but | selec
: ed the two Batetela, principally b.
cause of their superiority and becaus
one was thetype of thehighest elias