The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-04-28

49, NNHN NAA ANEN
P16 OF the British isles and GOV.
Wi eriug 1901 600 square miles Of
country Running Up through
Nieeria - the wonderful River Niger.
he birthplace Of which was for ages
AZ mysterious as that Of the Nile a.
self. II Is with some Of the people
who live along the banks Of the river
that I now propose 10 deal They are
among the latest OF the kings sub
lects. for II was only In 1900 that they
came under direct imperial admins.
tration.
Near the coast the land Is low ~.
ing and swampy But as the interior
Is reached there rise plateau after pla.
teau, until az last high mountains are
discovered. Climate and environment
play an important part 10 the charrc-
teristics Of a people. Accordingly.
among the natiyen Of the Niger delta.
living In the malaria-soaked mangrovo
Ewamps, there Is constant disease. and
the negroes are addicted TO every Kind
OF foul custom and superstition. When.
however. higher country Is reached.
where there are grassy plains and
hills studded With fine trees. a brave
and yarlike type OF negroes rs en-
countered. men who are altogether In
a higher state Of civilization.
There Is something terribly eerie
about the dark forests which cling 20
the Shiny and foul-odored banks Of the
Lower Niger Along the innumerable
creeks the heavily leaved branches OF
the mangrove trees are so iuterlaced
that the light IL completely shut out
The mnloroious air. which sucks an
the vitality out Of the white man. is
steamy. and the squelching mud e. fun
OF appalling and ~vilelooking creatures.
Alongside these black recesses live
the negroes whom I have called the
men OF the mangrove swamps. Some.
thing OF the horrlbleness Of the sur
roundinEs seems 70 have entered into
their natures. for they take a nendish
delight in murder and torture and ia
practices Of the most revolving eharac.
ter. The impression on the mind Of
the traveller when hts eapoe pushes
up one OF the network Of creeks, and
in the b~lackness Of the forest. so
strange and so weird after the flaming
light outside. he suddenly
acroas a village Of Nattled huts and
low caste natives. completely naked.
with ~tattooing or raised scars upon
their black skins. IS never e~radieated
a. long as memory holds.
Life IS one long terror 20 them
They believe In ghosts which KIN with
spears. they believe that constantly on
the steamy waters are travelling misty
canoes hurrying the living 10 the re-
EicnH OF the nccursod. and they are
sure OF the existence % evil spirits
which kul without n wound, or which
nark their visit by daubing the huts
with blood. and sometimes even nlling
the cooking pots with blood
Away IN the most inaccessible cor
nere Of the bush. 50 hidden that you
can approach within n few yards with.
out knowledge hat you are close 10 a
settlement. live the Ibibios. who are
among the lowest Of the tribes OF the
Niger delta. Their villages ara ~,
moved from the native roads. prob.
ably 20 escape the notice of slave ira
ders. who used 20 be very active IN
these parts. ny the roadaides may be
seen spirit houses for the reception OF
the souls OF men between death and
roincarnation.
Until the coming Of the British--and
ever now IN remote districts-thess
people INDUCED IN ~caunlbalism They
made human sacrifices. AZ the birth
az twins was considered Of evil omen.
the mother and her children were al
ways slaughtered. since British rule
has been exercised these atrocities
have been prohibited, and thus when
ever disaster comes 10 the Ihiblns they
always aacribe Il 90 their being pre-
vented from making sacrifices 20 ap
peasc the devils % the wootB
The most important race on thr
lower Niger. and living further iuiand
arc the tboa The people speaking the
.ibo language number some milliunp
though. Of course. how many exactly
Il Il impossible 10 say They ara NOS
very big men, rarely taller than Eve
and u half feet, but thcy are well made
and muscular. and the have
skins so black and SO bright that thcl
look like ebony. when YOUNG they
are often rather handsome. but as
they reach manhood or ~womAubood
they become either very fat or yery
thin. The black mans ideal beautiful
gtrl r. a very plump one, and accord
ingly before marriage the bride Il
specially fattcned. 80 that her spous,
may be all the better pleased with
her.
The hos are great fishermen. and
spend much OF their time In that pun
suit. leaving most Of che trade IN the
hands Of the women. They have towns
and these. as well "a the villages. ars
governed by chiefs recognized by the
british government, each Of whom has
sworn allegiance 10 the local king. The
streets are grassy lanes. across which
stretch festoons OF giant croepors
and the huts are 30 hidden among ths
scrub and low trees that they are al
u,oEf natetinruiahnht from the sur