The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27
In the WIdS of africa.
BY WILLIAM S CHERRY.
AFRICAN Traveller. Explorer and Big Game
Hunter)


Copyright. 1905 by Joseph B. Bo"lesJ
We arrived at Brazzaville after four
teen days walking and two days rest
at Manyanga-a tedious trip Of 25O
miles around the unnavigable portion
Of the lower Congo. Some Of the rapids
in this portion Of the Congo are terrific,
wasting force enough to supply prac-
tically unlimited electric power. The
first falls Of this series of rapids are
ninety miles from the rivers mouth,
at Matadi II il were not for the rapids
- ocean steamers might run to Stanley
Pool. 800 miles from the coast. Here the
river widens out into great lake, thir-
teen miles long and eight and ten miles
wide There is an immense, swampy
island in this lake covering two-thirds
Of its area, and on this island the hip
popotamus and buffalo reign supreme.
Toward the western end the pool mar
rows and flows into a gorge. Here the
water passes over the first rapids and
falls, looking much like the rapids
above Niagara, only the latter are in
miniature compared with those Of the
Congo.
BrazzavilIe is situated on the north
bank Of the Congo, just above this rap
id on a high plateau that commands a
view OF the whole pool. 1t was named
after the explorer, Francois de Brazza,
who came very near fOrestalling Stan
lev in the exploration of the Congo.
Here at Brazzaville is the seat of the
government Of the Upper Mobangui,
fast becoming one Of the most exten-
sive colonies Of France.
When I arrived at Brazzaville in 1890
it was a place of only three or four
houses for the officials and a trading
post. the headquarters Of the company
by which I was employed. In 1896 it
had become a place of Importance. Mar
chand's expedition was there.
McClintock and I soon found there
was no way Of getting our loads up
country, as Marchand was using every
carrier for his own loads and was send
ing out armed companies TO recruit ad-
ditionaI carriers. It would be six
months. said the officials Of the COM
pany. before we could expect our
things. They were greatly behind with
their own goods, and now Marchand's
requirements had demoralized every
thing.
After resting several days McCliI-
took was offered a place with the trad
ing company, and got a contract to
erect a steamboat for the French gov
ernufent. The steamer had been on the
caravan route from Loango for over
two years There had been two Of
them, galvanized steel hulls, seventy
by twelve feet beam, compound engine
with tunnel screw, to draw eighteen
inches Of water. They were for explora-
ton and the hull was cut across in
eight sections, so as to be bolted To-
gether and taken apart, each section
weighing some 800 pounds after rivet-
ing together. They were sent up cOun-
try from Loango in pieces, the ribs and
plates separate and the cylinders in
sections, and all cut up into sixty
mound loads. The boiler was a tubular
concern, with $50 tubes and steam
ioint at each end. These boats had
been abandoned by the native carriers,
partg OF them had been stolen to make
epears and the brass work had been
made into bracelets, anklets and other
ornaments for the dusky beauties. The
natives melted over the brass and
made il into their currency. What was
too big to steal was left out in the
heavy tropical rains and moisture, and
when il arrived at Brazzaville the parts
left over were simply ruined. The
stuff would never have reached Braz-
zavflle at all had not the government
sent an armed force, which made sew
eraI demonstrations by burning a few
villages and killing the inhabitants.
Then the natives disgorged the stolen
property.
There had been three engineers Of the
French marine sent out to put these
boats together They did not like the
prospect. Ind said it could not be done,
and the commandant Of the marine Of
the upper Mobangui was in a great
predicament. There was the expedition
OF Marchand TO go up the river and no
boats to go in. Commandant Morain's
fleet consisted Of three other boats. The
Of these had been condemned. The third
I helped to overhaul and get started.
The two new boats looked as though
ready for the scrap heap, but L looked
them over and took the contract Of
building one from the remains of the
two.
I commenced work and had thirteen
Senegalese natives at my command.
Brazzaville at this time was in e typi-
caIy French condition, with everything
at crosses The administrator hated
Ihe. commandant. and the feeling was
cordially returned. Marchand had or
ders that went over the heads of both
and 10 none knew exactly what was
what ] watched with interest the ma
rine branch Of the government The
Government had been 10 = half million
eNDcnse TO get these two boats to Braz-
zaviIle and was also maintaining the
three engineers. These gentlemen never
touched the boat. They were always
eick. one really was sick and the others
were playing. During the day their
sole consolation was absinthe and at
night. as there was no amusement, they
would sit around a table, singing songs
and telling stories that were none too
coherent Occasionally there would be
q row.