The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-18
AFRICAN CHARACTERISTICS.

\ Voice from tho Congo: Comprising
Stories. Anecdotes. and Descriptive
Notes BY Herbert Ward With Illus
tTitiuus from Photographs. Sculpture.
and Drawings by the Author. Pub.
llshed by Charles Scribncrs Sons, New
York.
This is a most interesting lot Of mis-
ccilaneons information about Africa
aud the Africans. ofteu telling in
story- or personal reference more about
the real minds OF the native tribes
than could lac got from many pages of
routine description or analysis. And
there is nothing of mere routine in this
NitaIv Interesting book.
The author explains that at tho age
Of 6fteen ne began his travels. mostly
in hen unknown lands, some of them
none too well known even yet. He
wandered in New Zealand. Australia,
and in unknown regions of northern
Bornco; and the vicissitudes expert
cnced wbetted his appetite for more,
aud led hio, To Central Africa. whore
he passed the FIVE most imprcssiouable
years Of his life. He says that he first
met STANLEY in the year 1884, the year
that he entered Africa under his ans.
Ihcrs, and was apparently with the
E.nin Pasba relief (sctually kidnap-
ing) expedition Of 1883, bat saws little
about it, in fact being one OF Major
Barttclot : party that was so severely
censured bv STANLEY for not following
him up, But although a chapter in
this book Is devoted To Stanley. there
is but little criticism of him, and much
praise.
Mr.. Ward exhibits in this work
very close acquaintance with number
az Central African tribes, and is in
deep sympathy with them. lie says:
took to Africans from the first. was
youug, full OF life and high spirits and
regarded every ono I met with as a
friend. My confidence was sometimes
checked but never shaken. with youth
fGl eNubcrance OF spirits ] fraternized
with every one met. and soon found
there was d fund OF good -humor in the
side To even the most yialnous looking
savage. and ] generally found IL.
N TINS free and easy way ] entered
into the lives OF the natives. Nv SYM
pathy. which was with them at th. com
mcnccmcnt. ripeDed with time. They ap-
peaie5 TO me strongly By reason OF their
simplicity and directness. their lack OF
scheminE or plotting. and by tho spon-
tane'ty ar everything thcy did. Hence
my efforts 10 learn their language, In or
der TO know them better.
Commencing in this casual manner I
found myself gradually drawn into seri-
Gus reflection. and became imbued witl,
profound sympathy for African human
nature.
with this sympathetic feeling, be
tells of village scenes, gives sketches
of native character, describes an cJc-
phant hunt. acquaints us with Loka
the Sorccrer. the monkey people. mar
rates the funeral OF an African chief
gives an estimate not materially diff.
ferent from StaDley's of Tippo Tib
recites the adventures Of Captain
Deane, narrstes forest drama. gives
an account of Suliman, the SLAYER, tells
The story of tusk Of ivory. and stories
of animals, presents some oddities. and
narrates village romance, devotes q
chapter to Stanley. another to the
words of Uledj Pagani, and others Il
the impressions of Bulelu, souvenirs
reflections. stories of white men. Kongc
characteristics, language, superstitions
capnibalIsm, and general matter. There
is good index. and altogether the
work is complete in its scope, and vast
ly entertaining.