The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-17

They are covered with green grass and have also beds of red flowers surrounded by hedges. AS we went in we saw chain gangs of blacks bringing dirt to make the mower beds. Each gang consisted of about 20 men chained and padlocked. Every man had a steel collar about his neck and there was a chain which ran from man to man by being attached to these collars. so that the gang made great juggling as it walked along. Each had sheet of corrugated iron on his head. and upon this about a bushel or so of black earth from the swamps outside the fort. The men were guarded at the front and rear by soldiers with guns.
 A Call Upon the commandant.
 The soldiers at the gates were not es- pecially friendly, and it seemed to me that the officers within did not want to meet strangers. Archdeacon Walker was with me, and through his knowledge of the native language we were able to talk with the guards and make our way The first soldiers we met told us that the commandant was. asleep and that we could not see him until he had finished his after-dinner nap. We then started away, but were called back by another soldier, who told us that his hghness had just awakened and would probably be out presently. This man did not ask us into the house, so we stood there and waited until the governor might appear. In the course of b minutes he did so. and after that we were very well treated. The name of the governor is Baron Captain Won Stuman. He is short fat little man with blond beard He was dressed in white duck, but nevertheless looked exceedingly warm. He took us into the house and we chatted together for some time about his country and people. He told me that the trade about Lake Vic toria is ropidly growing, and that large part of the goatsl1ins and hides, which form one of the principal exports, goes to the United States He says there is an increasing demand for American cotton goods and advises our country to push them. He also gave the opinion that Ger man East Africa was beginning to pros per, and that 1t would eventually be a well paying colony.
 Business Among the Bajibas.
 Shortly after this we left the governor and strolled out into the town of Bullooa to look at the stores and the market. These are right near the fort. the village proper being some distance away. The chief business street consists of dozen or more little booths, each occupied by a Hindoo merchant, who sits or stands in it., surrounded by his goods. The black, graSS-clad customers remain outside the store, and make their purchases by means of cowry shells. The chief things sold are colored and uncolored cottons. the favorites, as 1 have said, being Amer ican sheetings. Another popular article of merchandise is wire, of copper iron and brass This Is used by the natives as gold and silver are in OUT country The wire is brought here in great kegs, and coils of 1t are hung up in front of the stores It is of all thicknesses. from the size of q human hair to the diameter of ones little finger. The thicker wire IS hammered out into armlets, anklets and collars. and the finer is woven and plalt- ed into similar ornaments. Some of the wire jewelry is heavy, and very com mon anlxlet worn by the women looks as thought it might have been torn from our woven wire fences and twisted to- gether
 In the market square, near these stores, I saw many black peddlers They squat ted on the ground with their wares piled about them. Here woman sold sweet potatoes. there one offered little piles of the entrails of sheep or goats, and farther over were others selling peanuts and white ants. These ants had been roast- cd They were displayed upon bits of banana leaves and were sold at so many shells per pile.
 Shells Used as Money.
 The cowrv shell is the chief currency of this part of Africa, and understand 1t is in common throughout the regions about Lake Taneanyika and the Congo valley. The shells are brought here from the