New-York tribune., 1907-11-10

Mr. LandOr's description Of the narrN ''
which public affairs are carried on:
This is practically what happens evs--
Of the day at the palace: Menek. with ,ala-.
bandaged IN white smash. as It Is called S ess
silk kerchief. and with cheap French fst Ssert
a large brim far back upon his skull IL ,J al ~ n
with some foreign minister over Soma POnuiis,s
problem OF great Importance 10 his counfryp ypoqlls
say the projected railway between the S--td
Adis-Ababa- The Emperor is deeply absSTFaai' Sya a.
Enters servant who whispers in the E,,..
regardless of the presence of the forales, 81
sentative or "A great European country: On '7ps
Your majesty, the carpenter wants so,,.
nails to mend the veranda-" e na
Here are the KEYS. Give him twan+r
says the Emperor If ne needs more coma AS
The Emperor is again In deep thought -. b
No comes up and whispers that muIs e q
The Emperor Jumps down from his th-,- |"
high packing case covered with Oriental csune Ut
ana h1SIenS 20 ms Telescope, scanning the cn-Ss
all round with il. in order to whether sf
Ababa u A1s =
Menelik has some kingly qualities. u. no.
generous and very courteous His subiac,, ss
not remarkable for good manners. 'sF0, pr
stance. when they see a European 90 bv - ons
generally hasten TO stop up the mouth and NJ. sic
in order they say, not to be suffocated IN rs
fetid corDselike stencil OF white people~ y, NJ
is much more that is quOtable in Mr. lana. pea
Abyssinian chapters. They contain. as wa - see
said. some of his best material As be ~, vi
trated further into Africa he travelled an ha
peoples less advanced in civilization than ! pot
Abyssinians. but often very interesting in u. tsd
characteristics and habits He seems N 4. he
had peaceable journey. but from time n r. av
came in contact with evidences of the ruu,s.l O
savagery. Even in Abyssinia the people N. tha
but slowly toward humane ideas. When -. sss
nails are not killed outright they are not I'D
prisoners. but 'are let loose about the CONT. mi
driven away like pariah dogs by everybolv ,seir
Obliged to lead a miserable existence" vas
Landor came across a murderer who had \. RS
thus turned adrift, and been made lunadc ,sad
his privatiOns ar
The pages on distinctly backward AfH- In
tribes contain many oddities. Among bhrO
Yambo the four front teeth are aIways -Eas
moved for beautyS sake, according to the y Is
tives themselves. The YalfibO are giants, n ,oi'
of them being more than six feet high ID
are very fond. are many African tribes he
embelIishing their bodies with large cicatr,s-
Their weapons are fashioned with some 81 10
but though they have rude musical inStrums--s c
neither in these nor in their utensils DO eo
show even the most primitive tendency tlEsl D
the development of a decorative instinct az
fact, tribe after tribe dealt with by Mr. Ian on
proves almost bestial in its domestic praeigon on
living in filth eating abomina5le fare-tO ing
nothing OF human fiesh-and revealing l-'eie
beyond animal prOpsnsities, For the stuiz'ef7
of such rudimentary phases Of society as XII
here described Mr.. LandOr has m abGnIa, VI
OF useful information. but his pages ha' M
make delightful reading On the subject Of la
Congo Free state he is naIvely aUiable. e =
saw nothing of the atrocities about which !e'
much has been written and is q little inpatE -
over those commentators who have raised 50 o
a storm over the traffic in red rubber" Yal
Landor writes in good faith. but he does
show that his Investigations were seaTch' I, I,
enough % lend any Importance 10 what he = = :
to say on this burning question.
Indeed il is not as a grave authority On q :"
ditions in Africa that he is to be cOnSu-A"'
He is. rather the light hearted. eager traT5z "
to whom We look simply for anecdotes OF s1. sH'
venture and picturesque impressions OF sazz
types. In this role he Is amusing and Someta'..
instructive. His two handsomely made - -
umes Will take a creditlble If not veTy
portdnt place in the library of travel