The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-26
Tippu Tbs Own Story.


The most famous Of slave traders and
ivory dealers died the other day at Zan-
zibar, an old man OF 70, in possession
Of large fortune honestly obtained
according to Arab standards. Several
years ago he began to write the story
Of such parts of his history as he
cared to place before the world. 1t has
reached the Western public In curious
roundabout way. TIPPU TIB used
Arabic characters with which to write
his story in the Suaheli language Of East
Africa. The manuscript was translated
into German by DR.. H. BRoDE, and was
published In the Mittheuunoen of the
Seminary Of Oriental Languages Of Ber-
lin. 1t has just been issued in Germany
in book form.
TIPpu TIB in 1t says that his narrative
Is absolutely truthful, but that he omit
ted great deal. He certainly did leave
chapters unwritten, for in the 1877 large
pages Of the Jliltheilungen which con-
tain both the Ki-Suaheh and the German
texts, he has not word to say about his
slave raider and slave trader.
He tells how he came to be nicknamed
TIPpU T1B. He had raided the Shenzis
and brought firearms to their notice In
a most unpleasant manner. We have
seen many strangers they said, and
taken their goods; but this man has
weapons that go tip, tip, and no one
can endure the noise or stand against
them So they called him TIPPU TlB.
and the world does not know him as
HAMED BIN MoHAMMED el Morjebi.
There is not date in the entire narra-
tive, but the writer begins his story with
his advent in the field of inner African
trading at the age of lG. 1t was years
after when he had become the greatest
Of the Arab traders, that he met an old
man whose name, he says, was LIVING
STONE, though he called himself DAVID
in inner Africa. TIppU Tbs confusion
is not surprising, for most Arabs are UNI
able to distinguish between the given
and the family names Of foreigners. He
says that the explorer and his few fol-
lowers were near to death, and that he
kept them with him for many weeks, and
then sent them on their way well sup
piled and with letters that would assure
good treatment from other Arabs.
This was the beginning of TIPPU Tbs
relations with explorers. From the
time of CAMERON till T1PPU retired, q
quarter of century later, with his $780,
900, the great Arab trader was conspicu-
GUS in every book of Central African ex-
ploration. He brought succor to LIv-
INdsToNE, helped CAMERON on his way,
and made it possible for STANLEY to
descend the Congo; and he does not for
get to tell everything that is to his credit.
STANLEY said that TIpPU TIB ives the
finest gentleman he met among the Arab
traders; but the old trader, embittered
by the wrongful accusation that he had
murdered Major BARTTELoT, is very
sparing Of his compliments for white
men. When he first met STANLEY the
explorer showed him Ii gun from which
he said he could fire fifteen balls in quick
succession. TIPPU TIB asked him to
fire the fifteen shots, but STANLEY re-
piled that he would not for $40 waste a
single cartridge. Then I was sure he
was lying writes T1pPU. But before
they parted far down the river STANLEY
proved to him that he had told the
truth.
The Arab asserts that he never received
full pay for the many weeks he spent
leading the Stanley party past some Of
the most formidable rapids and ferocious
cannibal tribes. He says the explorer
promised to send him from Europe 81, 900
and splendid watch, but what he actu-
ally sent was IS, 900 and his photograph.
OF another explorer Of good reputation
he says that he never met another living
creature who could lie like him.
TIPPU's story is q very rambling one
Its chief value is that it throws consid-
cradle light on the days before the adj
vent of the whites, when the Arabs wan
dered at will through tropical Africa
with their invincible guns, That was
the golden era, when two beads would
buy large fine fish; few cents would
purchase a fine tusk of ivory, or a half
yard of cotton cloth days supply for
his caravan In those times TIPPU
made war on every black chief who re-
fused to trade with him. He helped
the more powerful chiefs to conquer
their enemies if such friendly service
was likely to add ivory to his store. The
natives suffered because there was no
mower to save them from the men who
we're seeking slaves and ivory with guns
in their hands.
T1pPU became the most powerful OF
all these traders, and all who read his
autobiography will see reasons for this.
His fortunes were advanced most power
fully by the reputation he made Of al
ways keeping his word in matter
of business. He started a poor boy
u;tbo,,t car,ital and in ten years hia