The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-02
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLINGwOOD

stood me. At all events, she tripped
lightly away, returning In few minutes
with small finely-woven basket contain
ing about two quarts of fresh palm Juice,
which she presented first to Smellie's lips.
and then to mine. Need say that. be-
tween us, we emptied 81? Our hostess
laughed gayly as she glanced at the emp
~ basket evidently pleased at the sue
cess of her attempt to converse with us;
and then. with reassuring word or two.
she tripped away again. only 10 return.
however, about quarter of an hour later,
with the same basket. filled this time with
kind OF porridge. which, though not
particularly tasty. was acceptable enough
after our long fast. This. our fair, or
rather our dark friend administered 10 US
alternately by means OF fiat wooden
spatua. This feeding process had not
passed, II need hardly be said. unobserv-
ed; and by the time that our meal was
concluded quite large audience of wo-
men had gathered round 10 witness the
performance. The animated jabber and
hearty ringing laughter OF several OF the
younger women, and the somewhat
abashed yet pleased expression OF our
own particular friend seemed 20 indicate
that badinage was not altogether un-
known even in this obscure African vii
lage. But everything OF that kind was
brought abruptly TO an end by loud
discordant blowing OF horns and the hol-
low tub. tub, tub, OF a number of rude
drums; at which sounds the crowd around
US broke up at once and retired. our little
Hebe casting back at us more than one
glance strongly idicauve, as 1t seemed to
me, of compassion.
A fire had been kindled I'm front OF the
idol. or fetish, during the feeding process
above referred TO, and now that the Curl
Gus crowd OF women and girls who then
surrounded us had retired We were able
TO see little more OF what was going on.
The horn-blowing and drum-beating en-
anated from group of entirely naked
savages who were marching In a kind OF
procession round the idol This ceremony
lasted about ten minutes, when another
negro made hts appearance upon the
scene, emerging from the temple, If such
II actually was bearing in his hands a
queer-looking construction. the nature of
which | was al first unable to distinguish
After marching solemnly round the idol
three times this individual seated him
self. tailor fashion. before IT, laid the in
strument on his knees. and began TO ham
mer upon IL with a couple OF sticks.
whereupon we became aware that he was
playing upon a rude imitation OF a ch,ld's
harmonicon, the keys OF which appeareo
TO be constructed OF hard wood. out OF
which he managed to beat a very fair
specimen of barbaric music This music
M
pending entertainments for upon the
sound of the first notes the inhabitants
began TO pour out Of their huts and 10
gather In a promiscuous crowd round the
giant tree stump upon which the hideous
fetish was mounted When the gather
ing was apparently complete the music
ceased, the drumming and horn-blowing
burst out afresh. and the crowd immedi-
ately divided into two sections, the
division, squatting on the ground in 4
sem-circle in front OF the image, whilst
the remainder OF the inhabitants ranged
themselves into two quadrants about 30
feet apart, one on each side and in front
OF their deity. Through this open space
between the two quadrants IL appeared
probable that we should obtain very
good. II rather distant view OF the cere-
monies which were evidently about TO
take place
The audience having arranged them
selves I'm position. the horn blowing
ceased, and the musicians stepped inside
the inner circle and seated themselves 10
the right and left OF the fetish. A pause
OF perhaps a couple OF minutes ensue1,
and then horns drums. and harmonicon
suddenly burst out with a loud confused
fantasia. ach man apparently doing his
utmost 10 drown the noise of the others
Louder ana louder Dlared the hOfns, the
drummers pounded upon their narrow
drums until II seemed as though at every
stroke the drum-heads must inevitably
be beaten in: whilst the harmonicon-
hammered away at his instrument with a
vigor and rapidity which must have been
truly gratifying to his friends
In the midst OF this wild hullabalOo
a blood-curdling yell rang out upon the
still night air. and from the open door
OF tho temple or fetish house there re-
bounded into the inner circle most ex-
traordinary figure clad from head TO heel
I'm monkey skins. his head adorned with
a coronet OF beads and feathers, bead
necklace round his neck. living snake
encircling his waist as a sirdle, and bear
Ing In his hand n red and black wand
about four feet long.
Upon the appearance OF this individual
the uproar suddenly ceased, then the
maestro who presided at the harmonicon
struck up a low accompaniment, and the
last conner burst into subdued monot-
anous chant. pointing and gesiiculating
from time TO time with his wand
CTo be Continued Tomorrow