The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-21
SULTAN DoRUMA WON OVER.
Az IMPORTANT TREATY MADE
ny THE CONGO STATE.
Nhite Men Admitted Into the Country OF
the AZambe Chief VINO Had Capt.
Bonyalet kiiled-A CAnnibal Despot
nj Home The Blood Brotherhood.

The congo STATE mas not YET eA'ehoeu
rs influence over the whole of its vast
territory. The time has been too short,
and few native chiefs have opposed the
entrance of white men into their territory
Among these districts is the country
Of tho powerful Azambe chief the Sultan
Dor,lma. in the extreme northeastern
mar, of the State. Until within the past few
months he never admitted a white man
into his domain.
He fought and wounded State Inspec-
tor Chatin when that official attempted
10 visit him. 1t was also by his order that
Capt. Ronvalet and Sergeant Devos we're
assassinated in 1894. Doruma proved to
b. difficulty that no white man cared to
encounter,
Early this year Capt. Iandeghem Of
the Congo State service was intr,isted
With a mission in the valley of Upper Welle.
The most difficult and delicate part Of the
work ASST gned to him was to renew the
efforts, suspended for years. to win the
friendship Of Doruma and bring him into
relations with the Congo State.
Landeghem disappeared in February
across the border OF the chiefs domain
and about two months ago the rumor
spread down the Congo River that the
Sultan had murdered him. 1t appeared
a little later that this rIrnor was based
wholly upon the fact that the Captain had
been gone eight days from the camp where
his troops were awaiting him. and, az no
news had come, 1t was believed he had been
killed Close upon the heels of the runlor
however. came word from Iandeghem
himself that he had emerged safely from
Doruma's country and had made a treaty
with him.
Landeghem's report has now been printed
In lie Movement Geographique. 1t is evil
den, that he carried ont his dangerous
commission with great courage, tact and
patience. and these qualities made him
successful
He saws that 70 have penet Doruma's
land At the head Of his troops would have
been to court destruction He decided TO
take with him only four Of his best men
and to trust for success to gentleness and
good humor.
He established camp for his soldiers
outside of the Sultan's territory and sent
messenger, four days journey, to Doru-
mas capital with handsome present for
he Sultan and the request that a white
man, the commissioner Of the great King,
he permitted to come to him with an escort
Of only four black men for the purpose
Of making friendship with him, Doruma
after a few days sent an invitation to visit
the capital.
The chiefs at Landeghern's camp told
him that he could not trust Doruma and
II he went forward he would certainly
meet the fate Of Bonvalet; but the success
of his mission depended upon entering
into friendly relations with the chief. and
so the Captain lost no time in pushing for
ward; in four days he reached the town
of the terrible Sultan.
He was met on the outskirts Of the town
nv Doruma himself. who came at the head
. al about 900 soldiers armed with guns,
4iances and arrows, singing. dancing, and
making a tremendous racket with their
musical instruments. Landeghem advanced
to the Sultan, shook hands with him. and
marched by his side at the head Of the
soldiers into the town where the Sultan
had built large straw hut for his guests,
Dor,lma then retired to his zereba, where
he lives with his large family of ono wives
and very nunerou, progeny. In the
afternoon the Sultan came again to his
visitor half drunk on arak. an alcoholic
beverage of the Arabs Landeghem de-
cided that he would not allude to the real
purpose Of his visit until Doruma was in
his right mind and showed undoubted
evidence of perfectly friendly disposition.
The next day the white man was invited
to see Doruma dispense justice among
his people The Sultan, long pipe in
his mouth was reclining upon a bed of
bamboo, as motionless as bronze statue.
At a considerable distance were twenty
or thirty natives ready to present petitions
and hear'the decisions OF their ruler.
All were OH their knees, their attitude
indicating that they held the potentate in
the greatest fear: they scarcely dared TO
speak loud enough IN be heard. When
the Sultan gave his answer to each petit
TONER the latter rubbed the earth with
his hands at the feet of Dornma and then
performed the difficult feat of retiring from
The Sutans presence on his knees and
backward. There was certain dignity
about the whole proceeding, though the
people were savages and their ruler canni-
bal despot.
That night Doruma was very drunk and
the Captain was little anxious lest under
the influence Of liquor the friendly senti-
ments which Doruma had expressed might
undergo a change and the drunken fellow
might order the massacre Of the five men
who were in his power. The night passed
quietly, however. and AZ soon az Lande.
Chem was convinced that everybody had
gone to sleep he dismissed his fears
Early % the morning Of his third day
in the town Doruma again visited the Cap
tain. He was perfectly sober and in the
best Of humor
The time seemed favorable for disclosing
the purpose OF the visit. The white man
told the Sultan that his King wished nothing
but good to the Sultan and his people and
that he desired peace, friendship and con-
Hdence between the whites and natives.
The whites could sell things to Dor,ima
and his subjects, which they might like
to buy. in exchange for ivory and other
objects which they had to sell.
The Sultan said he must take little
time TO think OF the matter. At last he said
that he was willing to enter into friendly
intercourse with the whites provided Lam
deghem would mako blood brotherhood
with him.
Everybody who has read of tropical
Africa knows what a powerful influence
this ceremony has upon the natives. When
TT