The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-06-08
YOU CAN'T LOSE THE IRISH.
Bump Into Hibernians All Over the
Known World.
0Chicago Cnronicle.)

|
lands of Africa, it becomes only nat
ural to recall the condition of the coun
try and its various tribes and peopl
not so many years since.
Tie progress of civilization almos
all over the great African continent
within fifty years is amazing. but yer!
probably in no part Of that vast coun'
try is the change so manifest as ii
! the territory known as British East
Africa. While, perhaps, that part OF
| Africa was known to some French
travellers and settlers two centuries
past, there is little historical data OF
any exactness as to the natives there
until within the latter half of the last
| century.
Even down to the period of its primi-
tive settlement under British rule, less
! than forty years since, the population
of the civilized whites was much less
than 1000, while the territory covers
over 100000 square miles, and the tribal
population ran by rough estimate as
over $4,000.
No doubt there may have been some
missionary spirit within the region al
some prior period, but it remained fol
a member Of the Jesuit order to ex-
plore the territory thoroughly and his
mission was inaugural ted in 1868.
In that year Rev. Charles J. Groom
erberghs. S. J., with several compan-
| ions, traversed several thousand miles
| from a point a little above Cape Town
through North Africa, up to the re-
gion of Victoria NyanZa, making notes
all the way of the country and its Vari-
Gus groups Inhabitants.
Father Croonerberghs spent some fif-
trO cs-- Ea -rl1.f
Gus tribes, among these semi-barbari-
Gus peoples more or less as one of them.
So well did these ignorant natives
| believe III him as man of peace that
in all the years he lived among them
not even once was he subject to I'M
kindness, but, on the contrary, he was
looked upon as one entirely beyond
their pale and was made an object of
affectionate regard and veneration.
Father Croonerberghs when he turned
his steps away from there in 1884 was
a master of seventeen different and dis
tinct dialects-all of the tribal IAN
guages-and when he was in Chicago
the following year it was with great
difficulty he ecould avoid conversing i'll
some one or other of these African
tongues. Even the English language,
so very well known to him before he
went to Africa, he found very diff
cult TO remember.
1t was really a novelty to hear him
speak, and, though he strove to eX-
press himself in the English tongue,
once in a while, apparently unknown
to him for the moment, he would break
out into some language of the tribes,
to the evident CONSERVATION of versa
zion.
OF keen observa ton, however. and
possessed of an extraordinary natural
descriptive mind, his tales were above
ordinary interest and no doubt the vol
luminous reports made by him to the
propaganda were clogged with rare
facts and data of a NEST valuable ma
ture. He was of spare stature, about
five feet six inches in height, well knit
physically, weighing about $50 pounds,
full beard and with an eye almost as
keen as that of hawk.
He was, though about 80 years old,
extremely quick on his feet, and such
hardships as would be beyond the or
binary man seemed not to fatigue him
in the least. 1t was far more common
to him to sleep in the open air than
in any so-called domicile and in At
RIGA he grew after a while to discard
sleeping even in a tent.
He is still living in one of the Jesuit
houses in his native Belgium, active
and alert. and as he was in younger
days so now he is almost continuously
in his study. at research and writing.
1t is hardly necessary to add that he
was of most kindly nature and, like
all great minds, especially those who
have Travelled and mixed with many
peoples, he was to an almost extreme
degree simple in mis- tastes.
His description of the Nile region
and more particularly of the great Vic
toria falls was minute and graphic.
The story Of his entry into the Ny
ANA country is worth repetition.
He and his companions had been
travelling for weeks and months prior
to a certain day on which in the early
they calculated they would,
ere evening, reach the point Of destina-
ton. So it was not late that same
q growth of heavy underbrush, or light
timber, and there it was decided they |
would halt for the night.
Accordingly they proceeded to I'M
pack and fix up something like fire
to get some supper, and as his COM
nanions were so engaged Father Groom
arbergrs stood a little apart, taking in |
the surroundings as we'll as he could |
in the dim light.
It suddenly occurred to him that there |
must be some other people in the vi |
einity, for he detected some slight |
among the brush. A little |
alter the forms of several men appeared |
1t the fringe of the timber growth, and
n a minute or two one man stalked
light out from the brush and came
lirectly across to where Father Groom
arberghS was standing.
This individual had some sort of
blanket wrapped around the body, but
wore trousers. He carried, held across
he chest with both hands, a rifle, and
lie marched in that style right up to
within a foot or two and directly in
ront of the Jesuit. OF course Father
was surprised and a
rifle uneasy, as the other party looked
ntently at his face, all the while hold
ng the rife ready for action.
To the intent CONSERVATION of the
PRIEST the other man presently took
If his cap and said, with a rather
trcng information:
How do you do, father?"
The latter replied:
Il am pretty well; but. pray, who
re yoU?"
The other answered.:
My name is Paddy Donovan. from
'ork father, and 1 am glad to see
GU"
But" the priest said. Mr. Dono-
an, what are you doing here?"
Donovan replied:
Il am chief of the tribe in this vi
unity"
Within a few DAYS the tribe with