Evening star., 1902-01-02
CONDITIONS IN THE CONGO.
Dorsey Mohun Says Justice is Admin
fstered and Natives Are Happy.


The London Times Of recent &date pub
fishes an interview obtained by its Brussels
correspondent with Mr.. Dorsey Mohun, well
known in Washington. on the subject of the
Brussels administration of affairs of the
Congo Free State. Mr.. Mohun refutes
charges made in London newspapers not
long ago that cruelties inflicted upon
natives of the Upper Congo. Mr.. Mohun
was formerly United States consul at Bona
and subsequently at Zanzibar. 1t was the
latter post which he quilted to enter the
service OF the Congo Free State, being ap-
pointed by King Leopold of Belgium chief
Of the eastern Congo telegraph expedition.
That expedition crossed Africa from the
mouth OF the Zambesi to the mouth of the
Congo. The trip occupied the time between
August. 1898, and October, 1901 During
that period Mr.. Mohun spent two years in
The part of the Congo territories formerly
known as the Zone Arabe,'' but now as
the Province Orientale" His residence
for some time was at Kasongo, the old
headquarters of Tippo Tib. and once the
Center of the African slave trade.
Mr.. Mohun is quoted as having said that
II would be impossible for any one to give
other than favorable report on the work
"rhe administration, he said, sis excel
lent The country is quiet from the falls to
TangaRyika. The native tribes seem con-
tented and happy and are paid by the gov
ernment for every stroke of work they do.
The price of rubber has increased and
every man who brings 1t in receives the
proper pay for it. Formerly robbery and
murder existed to great extent among the
tribes. but these crimes are now rare. The
old 'Nwavi,' or ordeal of drinking poison,
seems to be disappearing. Justice is ad
Ilinistered with an impartial hand, and l
believe the natives are beginning to appre-
f4fsa he hon Y1sfir Of ono
The natives assist the Europeans in the
administration of justice. / could enumer-
ate many instances where they have them
Selves brought to justice thieves and mur-
derers- In the Manyema country. which is
very thickIy populated, a great market has
been established at Vieux Kasongo, and
this serves as a meeting place for thou
sands twice a week. Caravans come from
I'm nearly every month, and the natives
Journey there by fifteen or twenty days
march I never saw a disturbance at the
market either going or returning. BY COM
mon consent guns. knives, spears and knob
kerries are excluded from articles of ex-
change and the men only carry thin walk
ing sticks There are no soldiers guarding
the market, but immunity from thieves is
guaranteed by ten or twelve native police,
who receive no pay and are highly pleased
to have an opportunity of showing their au-
thority.
THE administration Is now established
on a good, firm basis and all the officials
take an intelligent interest in their work,
with the result that scandals are quite
thing Of the past. The stations are all
Fplendidly and solidly built and the groun s
are laid out in a pleasing way. The trans
port service by canoe between Kasongo and
Stanley Falls goes without a hitch, and
thousands of loads of merchandise go up
the river each year. absolutely unguarded.
and the loss by theft Is almost nothing
The steamer service between the falls and
the pool is good"